On Friday, April 25, 2025, the Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility issued a public censure against attorney Curtis Douglas Johnson. The censure follows a complaint that detailed multiple instances of professional misconduct.
The case is entitled “In the Matter of Curtis Douglas Johnson,” with case no. 100424-2024-9-SC-INV.
The Board convened on March 14, 2025, to review the allegations against Johnson, identified by his attorney registration number, #015518. The complaint highlighted several failures on Johnson’s part, particularly regarding his obligations as an attorney.
One significant issue raised was Johnson’s failure to file required fee disclosures with the Federal Bankruptcy Court, despite having received explicit instructions from the Court to do so. This oversight raised concerns about his adherence to professional standards.
Additionally, the complaint noted that Johnson neglected to promptly inform his client about receiving and accepting a settlement offer from her landlord in a wrongful eviction case. This lack of communication continued as he failed to notify her when the settlement funds were received. Furthermore, he distributed funds held in trust for another client to this first client before the check for her settlement had been deposited and cleared, raising further ethical concerns about his management of client funds.
These actions violated several Rules of Professional Conduct, including Rule 1.4, which pertains to client communication, Rule 1.15(a) and (d), which address the safekeeping of property and funds, and Rule 3.4(c), which involves knowingly disobeying obligations to a tribunal. The Board determined that these violations warranted a public censure as a disciplinary measure.
According to Avvo.com, Mr. Johnson is a Chapter 7 bankruptcy attorney in Memphis, Tennessee. He attended Loyola University New Orleans – College of Law. He acquired his law license in Tennessee in 1992.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
