Hello, my name is Dwayne Fortner. I was born and raised right here in Carter County, TN. I grew up in Stoney Creek and graduated from Unaka High School. In 2003, I joined the United States Army. I served four years on active duty as an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Operator in the 1st Armored Division in Germany, which included a deployment to Iraq in 2005. After my active-duty tour, I joined the Tennessee National Guard and served in the 253rd Military Police Company which included my 2nd deployment to Iraq. When I returned, I also served in the 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment in Mount Carmel.
While serving in the Tennessee National Guard I attended East Tennessee State University. After I graduated in 2012, I was accepted to several law schools. I chose to attend Ohio Northern University College of Law. While studying at ONU, I worked in the school’s Civil Law Clinic assisting clients with divorce and estate issues. I also worked in the university’s Bankruptcy Clinic under the supervision of a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Trustee. These experiences bred a passion in me to assist clients navigate complex areas of law that affect their lives.
After I graduated from Ohio Northern University, I returned to Elizabethton. I practiced in the Crockett Law Building from 2016-2019 assisting clients with a variety of issues including bankruptcy, estates, personal injury, contract/insurance, and criminal matters.
In 2019 I accepted a position with the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security practicing administrative law, specifically appeals of administrative cases to courts of record. There I developed the expertise needed to litigate cases and appeals pursuant to the Tennessee Administrative Procedures Act. In 2023, I returned to private practice in Elizabethton. I am using my diverse experience to assist clients navigate the legal quagmires that affect their everyday lives.