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IN THE SUPREME COURT OF TENNESSEE
AT NASHVILLE
IN RE:PAUL JAMES SPRINGER,SR.,BPR #21267
An Attorney Licensed to Practice Law in Tennessee
(Shelby County)
FILED
JUN 2 3 2016
No. M2016-01120-SC-BAR-BP
BOPR No. 2012-2170-9-SG Clerk of the Courts
Rec'd By
ORDER OF ENFORCEMENT
This matter is before the Court upon a Petition for Discipline filed against Paul
James Springer, Sr., on November 2, 2012; upon the Response to Petition for Discipline
filed by Mr. Springer on January 2, 2013; upon the Hearing Panel's Findings of Facts and
Conclusions of Law filed on January 2, 2014; upon the Board of Professional
Responsibility's Motion to Alter or Amend the Judgment of the Hearing Panel Entered
January 2, 2014, filed on February 3, 2014; upon the Hearing Panel's Order to Show
Cause filed on February 10, 2014; upon Mr. Springer's Response to Order to Show Cause
filed on February 20, 2014; upon the Hearing Panel's Amended Order filed on February
26, 2014; upon consideration and approval of the Hearing Panel's judgment by the Board
on March 14, 2014; upon Mr. Springer's Petition for Certiorari filed on April 28, 2014, in
the Chancery Court for the Thirtieth Judicial District at Memphis; upon the April 6, 2015
Order of the Chancery Court affirming the decision of the Hearing Panel; upon the Order
of the Tennessee Supreme Court filed on September 22, 2015 (M2015-01111-SC-BAR-
BP)remanding the matter; upon the Amended Motion to Accept Late Filed Appeal or in
the Alternative to Make Factual Findings to Allow the Tennessee Supreme Court to
Determine Whether A Late Appeal Shall be Allowed filed by Mr. Springer in the
Chancery Court on July 6, 2015; upon the Order Granting Amended Motion to Accept
Late Filed Appeal filed on November 24, 2015; upon the Motion to Alter or Amend the
Court's Order Affirming the Hearing Panel's Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law
filed by Mr. Springer in the Chancery Court on December 23, 2015; upon the Order of
the Chancery Court filed on February 18, 2016; upon the Order of the Chancery Court
denying the Motion to Alter or Amend entered on February 29, 2016; upon the Notice of
Appeal filed by Mr. Springer on March 28, 2016; upon the Order to show cause filed by
the Tennessee Supreme Court on April 28, 2016; upon the Order of the Tennessee
Supreme Court dismissing the appeal filed on May 13, 2016; upon the Motion to
Reconsider and Reinstate Appeal filed by Mr. Springer on May 25, 2016; upon the Order
denying the Motion to Reconsider and Reinstate Appeal filed on May 25, 2016; and upon
the entire record in this cause.'
This matter was initiated prior to January 1, 2014, and is governed Tenn. Sup. Ct. R.9(2006)except as otherwise noted.
From all of which the Court approves the Order of the Chancery Court for the
Thirtieth Judicial District at Memphis and the Order of the Hearing Panel and adopts the
Hearing Panel's Findings of Facts and Conclusions of Law and Amended Order as the
Court's Order.
IT IS, THEREFORE, CONSIDERED, ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND
DECREED BY THE COURT THAT:
1. The law license of Paul James Springer shall be suspended for a total
period of two(2) years and sixty (60) days. Mr. Springer shall serve a minimum of sixty
(60) days as an active suspension and thereafter indefinitely until completion of the
following enumerated conditions:
i) Proof of the tender of payment of $10,000 in restitution to Ms. Barnes pursuant
to Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 9, §§ 4.2 and 4.7(2006).
ii) The engagement of a practice monitor, pursuant to Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 9, § 12.9,
to monitor Mr. Springer for the two (2) year period of probation to assure his
compliance with trust account rules, accounting procedures, and best office
management practices. The practice monitor shall be approved by the Board and
shall make such reports to the Board as it deems necessary. All expenses related
to the establishment and conduct of such practice monitor, including any fees for
the practice monitor, shall be borne by Mr. Springer.
iii) Mr. Springer shall enroll in and certify his completion of a practice and
professional enhancement program focusing on practice management and
accounting that includes not less than six (6) hours of continuing legal education
certified for credit by the Tennessee Commission on Continuing Legal Education.
iv) Mr. Springer shall obtain professional liability insurance in the amount of at
least $100,000/$200,000 covering his handling of escrow and trust funds on behalf
of clients and maintain said coverage during his probation. Mr. Springer shall
provide proof to the Board that said coverage is in effect during the period of
probation.
Upon satisfactory completion of conditions i-iv hereinabove and the sixty(60) day
period of active suspension, Mr. Springer may then serve the remainder of his
suspension on probation.
2. In the event Mr. Springer fails to meet any condition of probation, the
probation may be revoked pursuant to Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 9, § 8.5 (2006).
3. Mr. Springer shall comply in all aspects with Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 9, §§ 18
(2006) and 30.4 (2014) regarding the obligations and responsibilities of suspended
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attorneys and the procedure for reinstatement. Prior to seeking reinstatement, Mr.
Springer must meet all CLE requirements, pay all court costs due and owing, pay all
Board costs due and owing, and pay any outstanding professional privilege taxes and
registration fees including those due from the date of suspension until the date of
reinstatement.
4. Pursuant to Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 9, § 18.5 (2006), this Order shall be effective
ten (10) days after the date of entry.
5. Pursuant to Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 9, § 24.3 (2006), Mr. Springer shall pay to the
Board of Professional Responsibility the expenses and costs of this matter in the amount
of $5,557.11 and shall pay to the Clerk of this Court the costs incurred herein within
ninety (90) days of the entry of this Order, for all of which execution may issue if
necessary.
6. The Board of Professional Responsibility shall cause notice of this
discipline to be published as required by Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 9, § 18.10 (2006).
PER CURIAM
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