Tuesday, October 23, 2012
The Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility has censured local attorney John M. Wolfe Jr. for violating professional conduct rules.
According to a board release Wolfe settled a civil lawsuit without his client's permission then paid the client $500. He said the money was payment from the defendant.
Wolfe entered into an order of dismissal but didn't give his client a copy for more than a year and never informed the client that the case had been settled.
The board cited rules of misconduct, communication and representation in their censure.
The censure is a warning and does not affect Wolfe's ability to practice law, according to the release.