Thomas L. Bean, a practicing attorney in Crossville, has been the appointed City Judge for the City of Crossville for the past 25 years. Judge Bean and his wife, Peggy reside in Deer Creek. They have two children, Mr. Tommy Bean and wife, Marsha who are owners of Bean & Associates Realty of Crossville and Ms. Kathryn Bean who resides in Nashville, TN.

Brother, James Bean served as Cumberland County General Sessions, Family and Probate Judge; prior to his serving as Crossville City Judge. Tom succeeded his brother as Crossville City Judge and continues to serve as City Judge. Tom also maintains a law practice with the firm Bean, Smith, Burnett and Patton.

The City Court has seen several significant changes over the past 25 years, over which Judge Thomas Bean been the presiding official. During Judge Bean's early years, there would be 20 or so cases brought before him during each session of City Court. At present, there are between 400 and 500 cases brought before Judge Bean each time City Court is in session. The docket for City Court has also changed in the past 25 years and has gone from a large, bound docket book to being totally computerized. The City Court of Crossville is continuing to grow and adapt under Judge Bean's leadership.

more about Judge Bean and his fascinating history...

a list of Judge Bean's distinguished community service...

Mary Beck joined the firm in February 2006, as closing assistant working with attorney Thomas Bean to assist in real estate closings and title work. She has thirty years of legal experience in a variety of fields of law, and has concentrated her career in the real estate field for the past seven years. She is also a member of the American Business Women’s Association. Mary and husband, John, have two children and four grandchildren. She enjoys spending time with her family and grandchildren, quilting, reading, golfing, and other outdoor activities.

James P. Smith, Jr. is a lifelong resident of Cumberland County, Tennessee and a 1977 graduate of Cumberland County High School. He attended Tennessee Technological University and finished with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Tennessee in 1982. Mr. Smith received his Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Tennessee College of Law in Knoxville in 1986 and was licensed in October of that same year through the Supreme Court of Tennessee. He was also admitted to practice in the Middle Federal District Court for the State of Tennessee. For the past 22 years, Mr. Smith has maintained a litigation practice in Crossville, Tennessee, representing clients in the areas of criminal defense, personal injury litigation, domestic relations, worker’s compensation, commercial litigation, products liability and medical malpractice. Mr. Smith’s practice currently focuses mainly on civil and criminal litigation with emphasis on personal injury and worker’s compensation cases.

When Mr. Smith first came back to Crossville from law school, he was an active member, for several years, of the Cumberland County Jaycees. He also worked several years as a member of the Board of Directors for Hilltoppers, Inc. and was an original member of the Cumberland County 911 board where he served for approximately 4 years. Mr. Smith is currently a member of the American Association for Justice, the Tennessee Association for Justice, the Upper Cumberland Trial Lawyers Association and the Tennessee Criminal Defense Lawyers Association. He presently serves as president of the Crab Orchard Utility District which supplies water to the Crab Orchard, Fairfield Glade and Hebbertsburg communities.

Mr. Smith has been married for 25 years and their daughter recently graduated from Tennessee Technological University and teaches in the local school system. His son is currently attending Carlton College in Northfield, Minnesota and is scheduled to graduate in 2009.

Connie Shadwell joined the firm in January 1993 assisting James Smith in worker’s compensation and personal injury cases as well as criminal defense work. Connie has worked in the law profession for over twenty years. She received a degree in Paralegal Studies from Roane State Community College in 2005. Connie and husband, Rich, both enjoy riding horses and taking motorcycle trips to different places. She enjoys spending time with her family and grandchildren who are the center of
her world.

Philip Burnett received his Doctorate of Jurisprudence from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 1995 and his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Tennessee Technological University in 1992.

Mr. Burnett has been licensed through the Supreme Court of Tennessee to practice law since 1995 and is currently admitted to practice in the Middle and Eastern Federal District Court for the State of Tennessee. While practicing law in Cumberland County for the past 12 years, Mr. Burnett has represented clients in the areas of Real Estate, Personal Injury Litigation, Domestic Relations, Workers Compensation, Social Security Disability and Criminal Defense. Currently, Mr. Burnett focuses his practice on Personal Injury, Social Security Disability and Real Estate Law.

Mr. Burnett has developed several upscale residential communities in the Cumberland County area. He is an active member of the First United Methodist Church in downtown Crossville, was a member of the Board of Directors for Hilltoppers, Inc. for many years and is currently affiliated with the civic organization known as Downtown Crossville, Inc.

Amy Allen joined the firm in 2005 to assist attorney Philip Burnett with personal injury, worker’s compensation and social security disability cases. She was born in Crossville but grew up in San Antonio, Texas. She moved back to Crossville in 2000 and is working on her A.A. in Paralegal Studies. She is a member of Phi Theta Kappa Society and the Honors Society at Roane State Community College. Amy enjoys spending time with her family which includes husband, Harold, and seven children.

Earl Patton has been practicing law since 2000. He has extensive trial court experience in the areas of criminal defense, domestic relations, employment law, and general civil litigation with an emphasis real estate disputes. Patton regularly assists his clients in matters of Social Security Disability and has represented the Cumberland County Board of Education for the past seven years.

A 2000 graduate of the Nashville School of Law, and a 1993 Graduate of Middle Tennessee State University, Patton is the past President of the Cumberland County Bar Association, a Trial Lawyers of America Advocate of Trial Advocacy, and a member of the National School Boards Association Council of School Attorneys.

Patton’s ancestors were among the first and most prominent settlers in Cumberland County and he is actively involved in many community activities. An accomplished musician who spent a great deal of time in the Nashville music scene before graduating from law school, Patton can still occasionally be found, undercover, playing the guitar and singing in select local haunts. Patton and his wife Rachel have four very active children who keep Patton young at heart.

Trudi Stryker joined Bean, Smith, Burnett & Patton in April 2005 as a receptionist and secretary for attorney Earl Patton. Before she started with the firm, she was in the banking industry for twelve years as a customer service representative and she gained a degree in Business Management at Roane State Community College in 2006. She and husband, Darrin, are part owners of Chestnut Hill Winery in Crossville. She has two boys and one girl and she is also grandmother to 18-month-old, Ava. She is also a clogging mom. Her husband and six-year-old son are cloggers and have performed at the Smithville Jamboree.

Susan M. Hyder is a Crossville native and has worked in the legal field for thirty years. She is a graduate of Nashville School of Law and was admitted to practice law in 2006. She has served on the advisory board at Roane State Community College Paralegal Program for several years and is the current President of the Cumberland County Bar Association. Her practice focuses on estates, wills, real estate, corporate and family law.

Teresa Wilson joined the firm in January 2007 as office manager and paralegal for attorney Susan Hyder. She earned her degree in Paralegal Studies at Roane State Community College in May 2002 and graduated Cum Laude. Teresa has an accounting certificate in bookkeeping and she is also a Tennessee Certified Real Estate Appraiser and owns an appraisal business with her husband, Fred. She enjoys spending time with family and friends and her extracurricular pursuits include singing, golf, softball, and bowling.