A Tennessee attorney received a public censure on Monday from the Board of Professional Responsibility of the Tennessee Supreme Court.
Barry Keith Maxwell commingled personal funds into his client trust account and improperly utilized the account for his own benefit by using the funds to pay his personal expenses, according to a news release from the board.
In mitigation, Maxwell ceased practicing law and no longer held client funds in the account when he deposited his personal funds therein, the news release states.
By doing this, Maxwell violated the rule of professional conduct 1.15, which relates to the safekeeping property, and received the public censure. A public censure is a rebuke and warning to the attorney, the news release states, but it does not affect the attorney's ability to practice law.