BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY (2016)
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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: JOEL ROBERT BELLIS, BPR #27750
CONTACT: KEVIN D. BALKWILL
BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
615-361-7500
April 7, 2016
MAURY COUNTY LAWYER CENSURED
On April 5, 2016, Joel Robert Bellis, an attorney licensed to practice law in Tennessee, received a Public
Censure from the Board of Professional Responsibility of the Tennessee Supreme Court.
Mr. Bellis failed to secure a written agreement with his client to establish a non-refundable fee, failed to
deposit the fee into his trust account, and failed to promptly refund unearned fees and costs to his client after his
representation was terminated.
By these acts, Joel Robert Bellis has violated Rules of Professional Conduct 1.5 (fees), 1.15
(safekeeping property), and 1.16 (terminating representation) and is hereby Publicly Censured for these
violations. In addition, Mr. Bellis shall be required to refund $3,100.00 in fees to his former client within one
hundred eighty (180) days of issuance of this Public Censure.
A Public Censure is a rebuke and warning to the attorney, but it does not affect the attorneyâs ability to
practice law.
Bellis 41123-6 rel.doc