BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY (2014)
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BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
OF THE
SUPREME COURT OF TENNESSEE
10 CADILLAC DRIVE, SUITE 220
BRENTWOOD, TENNESSEE 37027
TELEPHONE: (615) 361-7500
(800) 486-5714
FAX: (615) 367-2480
E-MAIL: ethics@tbpr.org
Website: www.tbpr.org
RELEASE OF INFORMATION
RE: PERRY ALAN CRAFT, BPR #6056
CONTACT: EILEEN BURKHALTER SMITH
BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
615-361-7500
November 5, 2014
DAVIDSON COUNTY LAWYER CENSURED
On October 29, 2014, Perry Alan Craft, an attorney licensed to practice law in Tennessee, received a
Public Censure from the Board of Professional Responsibility of the Tennessee Supreme Court.
Mr. Craft was a partner in a two-partner law firm. Mr. Craft had authority to write checks from the
firmâs trust account, but Mr. Craft was not involved in the daily operation of the trust account. Mr. Craft
represented a client in a medical malpractice lawsuit who settled her claim against one of the defendants in June
2009. The client received a partial payment of the settlement funds in December 2009. After substantial further
litigation by Mr. Craftâs firm, the client hired a new attorney in July 2013, and the remaining settlement funds
were transferred to the new attorney. The clientâs funds were not maintained in the firm trust account for the
duration of the representation.
In the representation of another client, Mr. Craftâs law firm received a settlement for the client in 2009.
In February 2010, Mr. Craft negotiated a reduction of one of the clientâs medical bills. In August 2013, Mr.
Craft was asked by his law partner to negotiate a further reduction in the same medical bill, which had not been
paid. Mr. Craft also spoke with an expert witness who did not timely receive funds to which he was entitled on
the matter. The funds were not paid to the third parties and were not maintained in the firmâs trust account.
In another client matter, the firm received a clientâs settlement on February 15, 2011. A dispute arose
with the client about the firmâs fee. The dispute was resolved in October 2013. The funds owed to the client
were not maintained in the firmâs trust account for the duration of the dispute.
Mr. Craft did not remove or receive the funds from the trust account. By these acts, Perry Alan Craft
has violated Rule of Professional Conduct 5.1 (responsibilities of partners) and is hereby Publicly Censured for
this violation.
A Public Censure is a rebuke and warning to the attorney, but it does not affect the attorneyâs ability to
practice law.
Craft 36113-6; 37225-5 rel.doc