BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY (2004)
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BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
of the
SUPREME COURT OF TENNESSEE
LANCE B. BRACY WILLIAM W. HUNT, III
CHIEF DISCIPLINARY COUNSEL 1101 KERMIT DRIVE, SUITE 730 CHARLES A. HIGH
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE 37217 SANDY GARRETT
LAURA L. CHASTAIN TELEPHONE: (615) 361-7500 JESSE D. JOSEPH
DEPUTY CHIEF DISCIPLINARY COUNSEL
(800) 486-5714 JAMES A. VICK
FAX: (615) 367-2480 THERESA M. COSTONIS
BEVERLY P. SHARPE DISCIPLINARY COUNSEL
CONSUMER COUNSEL DIRECTOR E-MAIL: ethics@tbpr.org
RELEASE OF INFORMATION
IN RE: SCOTT ERIC CRAWFORD, BPR #17056
CONTACT: JESSE D. JOSEPH
BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
615-361-7500
October 28, 2004
MEMPHIS LAWYER SUSPENDED
Scott Eric Crawford, a Memphis lawyer, has been suspended from the practice of law by
Tennessee Supreme Court Order filed on October 26, 2004. Crawford was suspended for a
period of nine (9) months retroactive to March 19, 2004, the date of his temporary suspension
imposed in an unrelated matter. Crawford will not be reinstated to the practice of law upon the
expiration of nine (9) months after March 19, 2004 unless he has first obtained an Order from the
Tennessee Supreme Court dissolving or modifying the Courtâs March 19, 2004 temporary
suspension Order imposed in the unrelated matter.
Between 2001 and 2002, Crawford engaged in a pattern of deceptive conduct as to two legal
matters he handled for clients. In the first matter, Crawford improperly instructed his secretary
to sign the opposing partyâs name to a Final Decree of Divorce without the opposing partyâs
consent and in a fashion inconsistent with the provisions of the filed Marital Dissolution
Agreement, which resulted in the wrongful assessment of court costs against this pro se opposing
party. In the second matter, Crawford improperly assisted an attorney unlicensed in Tennessee
to engage in the unauthorized practice of law in Shelby County General Sessions Court without
complying with the requirements of Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 19.
The Board of Professional Responsibility filed a Petition for Discipline in November, 2002
against Crawford pursuant to Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 9, and Crawford promptly filed an
Answer. A Hearing Panel from Disciplinary District IX was appointed to decide this matter in
January, 2003, and extensive discovery was conducted and several pre-hearing matters were
considered by the Panel during 2003 and early 2004. At the final hearing set in this matter
before the Panel on August 18, 2004, Crawford tendered a plea to the Petition whereby he agreed
to be suspended from the practice of law for nine (9) months retroactive to March 19, 2004 as set
forth above.
Section 18 of Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 9 requires Crawford to notify by registered or
certified mail all clients being represented in pending matters; all co-counsel and opposing
counsel of the Supreme Courtâs Order suspending him. Section 18 also requires Crawford to
deliver to all clients any papers or property to which they are entitled.
Crawford may be reinstated from this suspension on December 19, 2004 without initiating a
reinstatement proceeding pursuant to Section 19 of Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 9, only if he
has first obtained an Order from the Tennessee Supreme Court dissolving or modifying the
Courtâs March 19, 2004 Order temporarily suspending his law license.
Crawford 1345 rel.doc