Hamilton County Attorney Publicly Censured for Alleged Mishandling of Records in Michigan

Chattanooga Attorney Faces Public Censure

Chattanooga, TN — Hamilton County attorney Shaheen Iltaf Imami found himself in hot water this week after being publicly censured for allegedly mishandling records and engaging in conduct prejudicial to justice in Michigan. Imami did not contest the disciplinary action within the specified 30-day window from receiving the notice, according to the Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility.

Imami’s Response and Reaction

Imami, however, claims he did respond in a timely manner. “I timely filed a response, and on July 2, 2024, the Supreme Court of Tennessee ordered the board of professional responsibility to file a reply by Aug. 1, 2024,” Imami said in an email. He added, “As of today, I have not received a copy of any such reply or a notice that one was filed, so I did not expect yesterday’s public censure. I brought this to the attention of the board of professional responsibility last night, after seeing the notice of public censure in TBA Today, and hope to receive an explanation of the error soon.”

Details of the Alleged Misconduct

The accusations against Imami are quite severe. He allegedly failed to maintain complete records of account funds over five years and did not promptly deliver money owed to his clients and third parties. Imami is also accused of not rendering full accounting promptly and not holding his client’s property separately from his own funds. The charge sheet states that he failed to use appropriate accounts for funds or to appropriately safeguard property. This alleged negligence tarnished the image of the legal profession, according to the Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility.

A Breakdown in Internal Controls

Imami admits to delegating certain responsibilities that he should have personally overseen. He explained that when there was an internal controls breakdown within his firm, it resulted in the loss of both physical and electronic data. This glitch prevented him from immediately determining the client’s funds held in trust. “Fortunately, I was able to obtain replacement records and manually reconstruct and reconcile the client’s account; however, the process took longer than hoped or expected. Still, the client received all funds held in trust,” Imami said.

Repercussions and Current Standing

While Imami faces reprimand in Michigan, the public censure in Tennessee is due to reciprocal discipline. Imami has been practicing law in Tennessee since 2022 and holds a law degree from Georgia State University. Despite the public censure, Imami can continue to practice law across Tennessee, as a public censure is a warning rather than a suspension.

We will continue to monitor this story for any further developments regarding the board’s reply to Imami’s timely filed response.