A Rhea County lawyer has been suspended from the practice of law for four years after he improperly used money in his trust account for personal and business purposes and failed to account for client and third-party funds.
John Fitzgerald of Dayton Tenn. must now pay the Board of Professional Responsibility’s court costs and expenses within 90 days of the entry of the Order of Enforcement for his suspension.
According to a press release, the board initially filed a petition for discipline against Fitzgerald in September of 2014, alleging he “improperly used his trust account for personal and business purposes, failed to properly handle and protect client and third-party funds provided to him, failed to account for client and third-party funds and failed to comply with a final court order.”
The release says Fitzgerald violated rules of professional conduct and must now comply with the requirements of the Tennessee Supreme Court regarding the obligations and responsibilities of suspended attorneys.