Memphis Lawyer Suspended for Ethical Code Violations

By Thomas Greer | June 9, 2012

Michael Brandon Barber of Shelby County, Tennessee, was suspended on April 26, 2012 for five years for neglecting the representation of five former clients. He was also ordered to pay a restitution of $3,436.50 to the plaintiffs.

In addition, Barber was ordered to pay all the expenses and costs of the disciplinary proceedings and to “fully comply in all respects with the requirements and obligations of suspended attorneys”.

The Tennessee Supreme Court handed down the suspension. According to the Board of Professional Responsibility, Barber neglected his clients. He deceived one client by claiming that he had filed a lawsuit on her behalf. The Court found that no such lawsuit existed. In addition, the Board of Professional Responsibility contacted Barber about the complaints that were filed against him, but he never responded.

Barber’s suspension was a result of these acts, which violated the Tennessee ethical rules for lawyers. Specifically, he violated the following rules:

  • 1.1 Competence: “A lawyer shall provide competent representation to a client.”
  • 1.3 Diligence: “A lawyer shall act with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing a client.”
  • 1.4 Communication: A lawyer shall keep a client reasonably informed.
  • 1.16 Terminating Representation
  • 3.2 Expediting Litigation
  • 8.1 Bar Admission and Disciplinary Matters
  • 8.4 (a), (c), and (d) Misconduct: Includes violating the rules, engaging in misrepresentation, engaging in conduct that impedes the “administration of justice”.

Barber received his law degree from the University of Tennessee. He was licensed to practice law from the University of Tennessee in 2007. According to AVVO, a national lawyer rating agency, Barber was temporarily suspended in 2010 for failure to pay that year’s annual registration fee to the Board of Professional Responsibility.

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