Board of Professional Responsibility comes down on three Midstate lawyers

Three local attorneys have landed in hot water with the Board of Professional Responsibility. Robert D. Benson, a Brentwood attorney, has had his license to practice law suspended by the state Supreme

Email | Print By Walker Duncan

06-19-2003 12:00 AM — Three local attorneys have landed in hot water with the Board of Professional Responsibility.

Robert D. Benson, a Brentwood attorney, has had his license to practice law suspended by the state Supreme Court, which oversees the board. The Disciplinary Counsel filed petitions alleging that Mr. Benson had both misappropriated client funds and abandoned his practice. The suspension will remain in effect until dissolution or modification by the Supreme Court.

Also suspended was Nashville attorney William C. Roberts. Roberts’ suspension came after a conditional guilty plea filed while the matter was pending before the Chancery Court of Davidson County. The petition for discipline was based on five complaints stating that Roberts had failed to act with reasonable diligence and promptness and had failed to adequately communicate with his clients, according to the board's Charles High. Roberts admitted to these charges. The five-year suspension is retroactive to July 10, 2000, the date Roberts was temporarily suspended from the practice of law.

Finally, the law career of Patricia Spicer Carden of Williamson County appears to be over. She was previously suspended for a three-year period and had never applied for reinstatement. Carden was suspended for a number of improprieties including the forging of a judge’s name on a court order. Carden was indicted for the forgery and placed on pre-trial diversion. The culmination of the disciplinary actions came late last month when the Supreme Court issued an order disbarring Carden for continuing to practice law or in a law related practice after the suspension of her license.