On Tuesday, September 26, 2023, the Supreme Court of Tennessee’s Board of Professional Responsibility publicly censured attorney Keith Lane Edmiston for violating several rules of professional conduct.
The case is entitled, “In the Matter of Keith Lane Edmiston,” with case numbers 55202c-2-KB, 55537-2-KB, and 59063-2-KB.
The Board’s decision to censure Edmiston was based on three client files, including one where Edmiston accepted a $600 fee to defend a client against a lawsuit filed on a sworn account, but failed to appear at the hearing and failed to file an appeal. In another file, Edmiston accepted a filing fee of $335 for a client for whom he filed bankruptcy, but did not pay the filing fee to the court, did not place it in trust, and did not return it to the client. In a third file, Edmiston filed bankruptcy for a client but was unable to complete the representation prior to placing his license on disability inactive status.
The Board found Edmiston’s actions to be in violation of the Rules of Professional Conduct. As a result, Edmiston was ordered to make restitution to the first client and the former law partner.
The Disposition states:
“By the aforementioned acts, Keith Lane Edmiston, #018366, is in violation of Rules of Professional Conduct 1.3 (diligence), 1.4 (communication), 1.15 (safekeeping funds), 1.16 (termination of representation), 3.4 (fairness to the opposing party), and 8.4 (prejudice to the administration of justice). He is hereby Publicly Censured for these violations with the condition that he make restitution to the first client of $1,725 and restitution to the former law partner of $335 within 90 days.”
According to avvo.com, Mr. Edmiston is a bankruptcy and debt attorney in Knoxville, Tennessee. He attended the University of Tennessee College of Law, graduating in 1996. He acquired his law license in Tennessee in 1997.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
