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Resident alleges city‑attorney ethics violations; calls for review
Summary
A resident told council that statements and conduct at a June 1 work session likely violated multiple Tennessee rules of professional conduct by the city attorney and said she has submitted the recording to the official record and referred the matter for investigation.
During citizen communications, Adriana Higgins addressed the council about behavior at a June 1 work session and alleged the city attorney likely violated Tennessee rules of professional conduct, citing Rules 1.7 (conflict of interest), 1.13 (organization as client), 3.1 (meritless litigation) and 8.4 (prejudicial conduct).
Higgins said the alleged conduct included advising a city employee to sue council members and that such advice potentially creates a conflict because the municipality is the attorney’s client. She said she intends to add a recording of the work session to the official record and has contacted oversight bodies, including the Tennessee comptroller and an internal investigation unit.
The council did not take immediate formal action on Higgins’ allegations at the meeting. Higgins requested transparency and said she would pursue the issue through appropriate oversight channels and records requests.
