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Roane County lawyer censured
April 6, 2021
Jason Ralph Hines, an attorney licensed to practice law in Tennessee, has received a Public Censure from Supreme Court of Tennessee. Hines was ordered to pay the costs of the disciplinary action to the Board of Professional Responsibility.
Hines, retained in a post-divorce action, engaged in inappropriate text communications with his client which potentially impaired his professional judgment and that of his client; failed to deposit client funds into his client trust account; provided inappropriate financial assistance to his client; and failed to promptly refund advance payment of unearned fees.
Hines executed a conditional guilty plea admitting his conduct violated Rules of Professional Conduct 1.7(a) (conflict of interest); 1.15 (a) (safekeeping property); 1.8(3) (conflict of interest: prohibited transactions); and 1.16(d) (declining or terminating representation).
A Public Censure is a rebuke and warning to the attorney, but it does not affect the attorney’s ability to practice law.
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