On Tuesday, February 7, 2023, the Supreme Court of Tennessee ruled on the Notice of Submission filed by the Board of Professional Responsibility notifying the Court of Wilson County Attorney Jennifer M. Porth’s affidavit consenting to disbarment.
The case is styled “In Re: Jennifer M. Porth” with case no. M2023-00164-SC-BAR-BP.
On August 11, 2022, the Court placed Porth on temporary suspension from the practice of law upon finding of misappropriation of client funds, and failure to respond to the Board of Professional Responsibility regarding a complaint of misconduct and posing a threat to substantial harm to the public.
The charges cited Porth has violated Rules of Professional Conduct t 1.2 (scope of representation), 1.3 (diligence), 1.4 (communication), 1.5 (fees), 3.2 (expediting litigation), 3.4 (fairness to opposing party and counsel), and 8.4(a), (c), (d) and (g) (misconduct).
The Tennessee Rules of Professional Conduct can be found on the Tennessee State Courts website.
According to the Board of Professional Responsibility’s released information,
“Ms. Porth represented parties in three different conservatorships. Ms. Porth failed to file accountings, as required by law, in any of these conservatorships. Ms. Porth also represented three estates in probate matters and failed to file any accountings, as required by law, and failed to timely and diligently represent her clients. Ms. Porth misappropriated and converted funds from these estates to her own personal use, failed to abide by her clients’ wishes relative to various assets of the estates, failed to properly communicate with the clients, failed to obtain permission from the Court for attorney fees and failed to turn over client materials in a timely
manner.”
Porth consented to disbarment because she could not successfully defend the charges against her, according to her affidavit submitted to the Board.
Accordingly, the Court upon consideration of Porth’s ethical misconduct and Port’s affidavit consenting to disbarment, finds it appropriate to enter an Order of Enforcement disbarring Porth from the practice of law in Tennessee.
Ms. Jennifer M. Porth attended the Nashville School of Law. She has been licensed in Tennessee, license no. 026537. She practiced in Wilson County prior to disbarment. Porth’s info can be found on the website of the Board of Professional Responsibility of the Supreme Court of Tennessee.
A copy of the Order of Enforcement can be found here.
