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: KATHERINE EVETT SMITH, BPR #23028
CONTACT: EILEEN BURKHALTER SMITH
BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
615-361-7500
January 23, 2014
SHELBY COUNTY LAWYER CENSURED
On January 22, 2014, Katherine Evett Smith, an attorney licensed to practice law in Tennessee, received
a Public Censure from the Board of Professional Responsibility of the Tennessee Supreme Court.
Ms. Smith improperly used her trust account as an operating account for more than one year. On three
occasions Ms. Smith commingled client settlement funds with the lawyerâs funds.
In another matter, after receiving client settlement funds, Ms. Smith issued payment to a clientâs medical
provider by cashierâs checks. The medical provider did not receive the cashierâs checks and notified Ms. Smith
in writing four times. Five months later, Ms. Smith issued new cashierâs checks to the provider. As such, Ms.
Smith failed to promptly deliver funds to a third party which the third party was entitled to receive.
In another matter, Ms. Smith failed to file a final judgment on a petition for custody for five months and
failed to respond to requests for information from her client.
By these acts, Katherine Evett Smith has violated Rules of Professional Conduct 1.15(d) (safekeeping
funds), 1.3 (diligence), and 1.4 (communication), and is hereby publicly censured for these violations.
A Public Censure is a rebuke and warning to the attorney, but it does not affect the attorneyâs ability to
practice law.
Smith 35061-9; 35217-9; 35425-9 rel.doc
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