BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY (2025)
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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
Website: www.tbpr.org
RELEASE OF INFORMATION
RE: DOUGLAS A. TRANT , BPR #006871
CONTACT: ERIC A. FULLER
BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
615-361-7500
March 26, 2025
KNOX COUNTY LAWYER DISBARRED
Effective March 26, 2025, the Supreme Court of Tennessee permanently disbarred attorney Douglas A.
Trant from the practice of law and ordered him to pay all costs and fees of the Board of Professional
Responsibility.
After a hearing upon the disciplinary petition, a Hearing Panel determined that Mr. Trant was retained
by clients in two (2) separate matters to potentially pursue specific legal objectives, that were dependent on the
outcome of initial research to establish whether they had viable causes of action. In the first case, the client
sought to challenge the constitutionality of a statutory provision; in the second case, a client sought to have a
1997 criminal plea reversed. In both cases, Mr. Trant accepted a fee to conduct initial research, performed only
minimal legal research, and discovered that neither client had a meritorious claim or viable cause of action.
Regardless, Mr. Trant then falsely stated to each client that their cases had merit and thereafter accepted
additional and more substantial fees to initiate litigation but took no further action on behalf of his clients. Me.
Trant never filed a complaint or initiated litigation, ceased all communication, failed to refund the unearned
fees, failed to return client files, and abandoned his clients and their cases, causing substantial injury or potential
injury to his clients.
The appointed Hearing Panel determined that Mr. Trantâs actions and omissions violated Rules of
Professional Conduct 1.3 (diligence), 1.4 (communication); 1.5 (fees); 1.16 (declining or terminating
representation); and 8.4(c) (misconduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation) and
recommended disbarment.
Mr. Trant must comply with the requirements of Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 9, Section 28,
regarding the obligations and responsibilities of disbarred attorneys.
Trant 3369-2 rel.doc