A Hamilton County attorney who collected money owed to his former client, and another who failed to perform his duties, have been censured by the Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility.
A public censure is a rebuke and warning to the attorney, but it does not affect the attorney's ability to practice law, according to a news release by the board.
The release said John R. Meldorf's censure relates to a woman he represented in a divorce. She was awarded attorney fees and at the end of the case, she owed him a small balance for his fee.
The ex-husband filed bankruptcy and listed Meldorf as creditor rather than his ex-wife. Meldorf collected money from the bankruptcy trustee that should have gone to his former client, without telling her, and used it to settle her account, the release stated.
Meldorf was censured for violating rules relating to safekeeping property.
The other attorney, James Dimmett Purple, had a client who was trying to establish title to real property. Purple filed a "quiet title" action without naming essential parties, the release states, and told the client he wouldn't amend the filing unless he were paid more money. Purple also filed pleadings that named people who weren't part of the case, and failed to correct the error after he was told about it.
The release said Purple violated rules relating to competence, scope of representation, diligence, communication and candor toward tribunal.