BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY (2010)
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BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
OF THE
SUPREME COURT OF TENNESSEE
1101 KERMIT DRIVE, SUITE 730
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE 37217
TELEPHONE: (615) 361-7500
(800) 486-5714
FAX: (615) 367-2480
E-MAIL: ethics@tbpr.org
Website: www.tbpr.org
RELEASE OF INFORMATION
RE: WILLIAM BARNES, JR., BPR# 11399
CONTACT: RACHEL L. WATERHOUSE
BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
615-361-7500
April 15, 2010
COLUMBIA LAWYER CENSURED
On April 15, 2010, William Barnes, Jr., a Tennessee attorney, received a Public Censure from the Board
of Professional Responsibility of the Tennessee Supreme Court.
In representation of his client, Mr. Barnes drafted an Agreed Order that incorrectly memorialized a
visitation agreement between his client and the childâs mother. Mr. Barnes admits his error in allowing
opposing counsel to sign his name and file the Agreed Order without Mr. Barnes again reviewing it. The
incorrect Agreed Order, which was adverse to the clientâs rights and his relationship with his child, was filed
and entered in October 2008, two months after the agreement.
Mr. Barnes failed to send the filed Agreed Order to his client, who received a copy of it from the childâs
mother five months after filing. In the meantime, Mr. Barnes had his client sign a Petition allowing his client
visitation on his military leaves, but he never set it for hearing. The Petition contains an error and is inadequate
to address the contested issue.
Mr. Barnesâ actions violated Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1 (competence), 1.3 (diligence) and 1.4
(communication) and is hereby Publicly Censured for those violations.
A Public Censure is a rebuke and warning to the attorney, but it does not affect the attorneyâs ability to
practice law.
Barnes 32050-6 rel.doc.
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