News Summary
Chattanooga attorney Arthur C. Grisham Jr., aged 82, faces a five-year suspension from practicing law due to multiple complaints. This decision, announced by the Board of Professional Responsibility, marks the end of his 54-year legal career. Grisham must pay over $73,200 in restitution as part of the suspension. The complaints included serious allegations of misconduct, including mishandling client funds, communication failures, and violations of professional conduct rules. Grisham reflects on his career legacy while acknowledging the challenges leading to his suspension.
Chattanooga Attorney Arthur C. Grisham Jr. Suspended for Five Years Over Multiple Complaints
Chattanooga attorney Arthur C. Grisham Jr., 82, has been suspended from practicing law for five years, effectively ending his 54-year career in the legal field. The suspension was announced by the Board of Professional Responsibility and took effect on a Tuesday. As part of the suspension, Grisham is required to pay over $73,200 in restitution to two individuals to have his law license reinstated, along with nearly $5,000 owed to the board.
Grisham, whose health is reportedly in decline, stated that he would contest the decision if he were younger. He expressed remorse over the circumstances surrounding the end of his legal career and acknowledged that he is saddened by how it has unfolded. The suspension is a result of two formal complaints filed against him, which led the board to initiate a petition for discipline.
Details of Allegations
Grisham entered a conditional guilty plea, admitting to multiple violations of Tennessee Rules of Professional Conduct. These violations included issues related to competence, diligence, communication, fees, expediting litigation, fairness to opposing parties and counsel, and general misconduct. Specific allegations against him involved failing to communicate adequately with clients regarding case statuses, lack of diligence and expediency, and noncompliance with court orders.
Additionally, Grisham was accused of mishandling client funds, charging unreasonable fees, and failing to provide essential information to successor attorneys. He faced accusations of civil and criminal contempt and was charged with abusing his executor position by withdrawing estate funds without appropriate court orders, leading to insolvency in one estate matter.
Background and Contributing Factors
Since 2023, Grisham has been embroiled in public disciplinary issues related to these complaints, although he has no prior disciplinary incidents on his record. The situation arose following his divorce, which led to internal troubles in his office, causing missed deadlines and neglect of court obligations. In one notable instance, a critical filing deadline was missed, attributed to a lack of staff communication.
Efforts made by Grisham to rectify issues with clients included offering restitution based on their perceived outcomes had they won their cases; however, these attempts were viewed as inadequate. One of the complaints involved an estate matter in Anderson County, Tennessee related to his ex-wife’s family, further complicating Grisham’s circumstances during this tumultuous period.
He acknowledged challenges stemming from the contentious nature of his divorce, especially as his ex-wife retained different legal counsel, which hindered his ability to manage certain cases. Grisham admitted a diminished stamina to continue practicing law and noted that the acceleration of disciplinary actions came more swiftly than he anticipated.
Grisham’s Career Legacy
Throughout his legal career, Grisham served as the first staff attorney for the enforcement division of the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Air Pollution Control Bureau, contributing to significant improvements in air quality in the region. In his latter years, he focused on a general practice that prioritized pro bono work by representing inner-city children facing significant challenges in crime-ridden environments. Despite often receiving minimal fees, Grisham achieved notable outcomes for those he represented.
As Grisham reflects on his lengthy career, he expresses pride in the number of individuals he has been able to assist and the positive impacts he has made along the way. However, the culmination of his career has now been overshadowed by the serious allegations against him and the resulting suspension.
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Additional Resources
- Times Free Press: Chattanooga Attorney Suspended
- Wikipedia: Lawyer
- Chattanoogan: Chattanooga Lawyer Faces Suspension
- Google Search: Chattanooga Attorney Suspension
- Local 3 News: Hamilton County Attorney Temporarily Suspended
- Google Scholar: Attorney Disciplinary Action
- Times Free Press: Hamilton County Attorney Update
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Legal Profession
