Suspended Hawkins Attorney Receives A New Public Censure

ROGERSVILLE — Hawkins County attorney and occasional substitute judge John Anderson’s six year law license suspension imposed in 2015 remains intact, but earlier this month he received a new public censure for rules violations that occurred prior to his suspension. According to a Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility report, a client hired Anderson to represent her in a car accident case, and although Anderson filed a lawsuit, he did not serve process on the defendant in a timely manner. For three years, Anderson falsely told his client he was in the process of trying to settle the case, during which time the lawsuit was dismissed by the court. As a result, the TBPR found Anderson in violation of its rules pertaining to competence, diligence, communication, termination of representation, expediting litigation, disciplinary matters, conduct involving dishonesty and prejudice to the administration of justice. The TBPR stated in its report that because Anderson has received prior public discipline for similar conduct during the same time period, he is hereby publicly censured for these violations.