Officials with the Tennessee Supreme Court confirmed they have disbarred Fletcher Whaley Long from the practice of law.
According to the official order issued on Wednesday, Long had previously been disbarred by Order of Enforcement on September 14, 2015.
Reports stated Long allegedly received a retainer fee but didn't complete the work before his suspension from the practice of law. He then reportedly misrepresented that another lawyer would assume the client's representation, according to the Tennessee Supreme Court.
According to the order, a second complaint involved Long accepting a fee to represent a client without providing the services.
Long was also accused of receiving a refundable fee from a client but failing to file a cause of action within the statute of limitations, and in a fourth complaint, Long allegedly failed to disclose his indictment for embezzlement and failed to provide services to a client.
The Tennessee Supreme Court released the following information:
"Mr. Long’s conduct violated Rules of Professional Conduct 1.2(a) (scope of representation); 1.3 (competency); 1.4(a) and (b) (communication); 1.5(a), (b), (e) and (f) (fees); 1.15(a)-(e) (safekeeping property and funds); 1.16(a) and (d) (declining or terminating representation); 8.1(b) (bar admissions and disciplinary matters) and 8.4(a), (c) and (d) (misconduct).
Mr. Long must comply with the requirements of Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 9, Sections 28 and 30.4, regarding the obligations and responsibilities of disbarred attorneys and may not return to the active practice of law until an order of reinstatement has been entered by the Supreme Court."
Tennessee Supreme Court officials said Long must pay restitution to four former clients based on these complaints "for engaging in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit and misrepresentation."
