BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY (2017)
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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: RICKY A. W. CURTIS, BPR #19761
CONTACT: EILEEN BURKHALTER SMITH
BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
615-361-7500
October 20, 2017
SULLIVAN COUNTY LAWYER CENSURED
On October 17, 2017, Ricky A. W. Curtis, an attorney licensed to practice law in Tennessee, received a
Public Censure from the Board of Professional Responsibility of the Tennessee Supreme Court.
In April 2016, Mr. Curtis timely filed a notice of appeal for a client seeking to appeal a criminal
sentence. Mr. Curtis did not file a brief in the matter. The court entered an order giving Mr. Curtis 20 days to
file the brief. Mr. Curtis received this order, but did not file a brief. The court then ordered Mr. Curtis to
appear on a motion for contempt. Mr. Curtis appeared at the contempt hearing. On February 23, 2017, the
court found that Mr. Curtis willfully failed to follow court rules and orders and was in contempt of court.
Mr. Curtisâ failure to file a brief for his client, or to withdraw from the representation, is in violation of
Rules 1.3 (diligence), 3.4(c) (fairness to opposing party and counsel) and 8.4(d) (prejudice to the administration
of justice) of the Rules of Professional Conduct, and he 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.
Curtis 51541-1 rel.doc