BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY (2015)
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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: BILLY J. REED, BPR #5644
CONTACT: KRISANN HODGES
BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
615-361-7500
May 7, 2015
KNOX COUNTY LAWYER SUSPENDED
On May 4, 2015, Billy J. Reed, of Knoxville, Tennessee, was suspended from the practice of law for three (3)
years, retroactive to the date the Supreme Court entered an Order of Temporary Suspension, January 17, 2014. Mr. Reed
was ordered to make restitution to four former clients or the Tennessee Lawyerâs Fund for Client Protection. Finally, Mr.
Reed must pay the costs and expenses incurred by the Board. The Court ordered Mr. Reed to contact the Tennessee
Lawyerâs Assistance Program (âTLAPâ) and follow any recommendations.
A Petition for Discipline was filed against Mr. Reed containing six (6) complaints of misconduct. In the first
complaint, Mr. Reed failed to adequately communicate with his client after a settlement was reached. By the time the
case came to a conclusion, he stopped communicating with his client. In the second complaint, Mr. Reed failed to
adequately communicate with his client concerning her requests to begin litigation in a real estate dispute. In the third
complaint, Mr. Reed filed a Petition for Conservatorship on behalf of his client; however, he failed to communicate with
her or to complete the case. In the fourth complaint, Mr. Reed represented his clients through a trial and appeal of a
boundary dispute. After the appeal, his clients were entitled to recover costs. Mr. Reed stopped communicating with
them and he failed to schedule a hearing to recover the costs. In the fifth complaint, Mr. Reed was hired to represent his
client in a wrongful foreclosure case. The client was unable to communicate with Mr. Reed about his case and ultimately
had to hire new counsel. In the final complaint, Mr. Reed was hired to represent his client in a real estate dispute. Mr.
Reed failed to respond to motions and he failed to adequately represent his client.
A Hearing Panel for the Board of Professional Responsibility found that Mr. Reedâs actions violated Rules of
Professional Conduct 1.3 (Diligence); 1.4 (Communication); 1.5(a) (Fees); 1.16(d) (Declining and Terminating
Representation); 3.2, (Expediting Litigation); 8.1(b) (Bar Admission and Disciplinary Matters), and 8.4(a) and (d)
(Misconduct).
Mr. Reed must comply with the requirements of Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 9, Section 18 (2006) and
Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 9, Section 30.4 (2014), regarding the obligations and responsibilities of suspended
attorneys. The effective date of the Courtâs Order is May 4, 2015.
Reed 2344-2 rel.doc