Perkins 1219 rel.PDF (2001)
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BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
OF THE
SUPREME COURT OF TENNESSEE
1101 KERMIT DRIVE, SUITE 730 WILLIAM W. HUNT, III
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE 37217 CHARLES A. HIGH
LANCE B. BRACY TELEPHONE: (615) 361-7500 SANDY GARRETT
CHIEF DISCIPLINARY COUNSEL (800) 486-5714 JESSE D. JOSEPH
FAX: (615) 367-2480 JAMES A. VICK
LAURA L. CHASTAIN E-MAIL: ethics@tbpr.org THERESA M. COSTONIS
DEPUTY CHIEF DISCIPLINARY COUNSEL DISCIPLINARY COUNSEL
RELEASE OF INFORMATION
SAMUEL L. PERKINS, BPR #11857
CONTACT: JESSE D. JOSEPH
BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
615-361-7500
November 1, 2001
MEMPHIS LAWYER SUSPENDED
Samuel L. Perkins, a Memphis lawyer, has been suspended from the practice of law by Order of the
Supreme Court filed October 29, 2001. Perkins was suspended for a period of 45 days, beginning October 15
through November 29, 2001.
The Court also required Perkins to complete the Boardâs September, 2001 Ethics Workshop (which he
did), and to obtain and provide to Disciplinary Counsel a law office practice assessment report from his monitor,
Legal Management Services, Inc., by November 29, 2001. The objective of the practice assistance monitoring is to
help Perkins in the areas of ensuring proper delegation of tasks to his support staff and ensuring such staff do not act
in matters requiring the professional judgment of a lawyer, calendaring, docket control, moving with reasonable
promptness and improving his communications with clients.
Perkins neglected clientsâ divorce and personal injury cases, failed to move with reasonable diligence and
promptness and did not keep his clients reasonably informed about the status of their legal matters. He also failed to
properly supervise a former member of his support staff who created attorney-client relationships with clients without
his knowledge, and who handled virtually all telephonic and mail communications with his clients. This former
employee also gave clients false and fraudulent court dates, forged his signature to correspondence; and pleadings,
accepted fees, and prepared certain legal documents, all without Perkinsâ knowledge. Perkinsâ discharge of the
former employee in October 2000, his prompt corrective action taken to conclude the clientsâ cases after disciplinary
complaints were filed, and his refund of fees in matters which he did not desire to handle, were considered
mitigating by the Supreme Court.
The Board of Professional Responsibility filed a petition for discipline against Perkins pursuant to
Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 9, and Perkins submitted a conditional guilty plea resulting in the 45 day suspension.
Section 18 of Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 9 requires Perkins 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 his license. The 45 day actual suspension period will expire without the need for a reinstatement
proceeding, and Perkins may resume the practice of law without conditions beginning on November 30, 2001.
Perkins 1219 rel.doc