April 2023 Discipline

These lawyers were the subject of Louisiana Supreme Court disciplinary orders or Louisiana Attorney Discipline Board recommendations published during the month of April 2023.

Louisiana Supreme Court

  1. Vernon Wesley Thomas. The court granted the joint petition for consent discipline and ordered the respondent to attend the Louisiana State Bar Association’s Trust Accounting School. Prior to filing the petition for consent discipline, the ODC commenced an investigation into allegations that respondent mishandled his client’s trust account.
  2. J. Maurice Thomas. The court permanently disbarred the respondent. The respondent practiced law after being prohibited from doing so, engaged in conduct involving dishonesty and deceit, and failed to cooperate with the ODC in its investigation. The court initially suspended the respondent in 2009 for three years, and the respondent failed to apply for reinstatement. In doing so, the respondent violated Rules 5.5(a)(b), 8.1(c), and 8.4(c).
  3. Preston G. Sutherland. The court granted the joint petition for consent discipline and suspended the respondent for a period of one year and one day, with the entirety of the suspension deferred subject to the respondent’s successful completion of a two year supervised probation. Prior to entering into consent discipline, the ODC commenced an investigation into allegations that the respondent mishandled his client trust account and allowed a non-lawyer employee to write checks on the trust account.
  4. Keelus Renardo Miles. The court suspended the respondent for a period of three years. The respondent failed to maintain necessary client and financial records, misused his client’s trust account, and converted client funds. Specifically, the respondent failed to timely remit funds to his clients and their third-party medical providers, and signed his client’s signatures to the backs of settlement checks without their authority and notarized their signatures. In doing so, the respondent violated Rules 1.5(c), 1.15(a), 1.15(d), 8.4(a) and 8.4(c).
  5. Henry B. King. The court granted the joint petition of consent discipline and suspended the respondent for a period of one year and one day, with all but 90 days deferred. The respondent mishandled his client trust account, resulting in the commingling and conversion of funds, and failed to properly withdraw from a representation.
  6. Mary Holly Hammett. The court granted the petition to initiate reciprocal discipline proceedings and suspended the respondent for one year. The respondent attempted to force a judge to recuse herself from a case over which she presided, refused to attend a hearing, failed to act in furtherance of the representation of her client, and failed to cooperate with the investigation. In doing so, the respondent violated Rules 3.5(a), 3.5(d), 8.1(b), 8.2(a), 8.4(a), and 8.4(d).
  7. Tonya Francelle Courson. The court granted the petition for joint discipline. Prior to entering into consent discipline, the ODC commenced an investigation into allegations that respondent neglected a legal matter and failed to promptly refund an unearned fee. In doing so, the respondent violated Rules 1.3, 1.5, and 1.16.

Louisiana Attorney Discipline Board

  1. J. Antonio Florence. The board recommended that the court suspend the respondent for two years, with six months deferred. The respondent failed to act in furtherance with representing his clients, failed to make a timely return of unearned fees, presented false statements to disciplinary authorities, and acted in conduct involving deceit and dishonesty. In doing so, the respondent violated Rules 1.3, 1.5(f)(5), 8.1(a), and 8(d).
  2. Albert A. Bensabat. The board recommended that the court suspend the respondent for one year and one day. The respondent pleaded guilty to a DWI charge and the respondent admitted to mishandling a client’s trust account. In doing so, the respondent admitted to violating Rules 1.15(a), 1.15(f), 8.4(a), and 8.4(d).

LADB Hearing Committees

  1. Craig J. Fontenot. Hearing Committee #14 recommended that the court suspended the respondent for one year and one day. The respondent pleaded Nolo Contendre to a DWI charge and initially lied to law enforcement about his involvement in a hit-and-run accident. In doing so, the respondent violated Rules 8.4(b) and 8.4(c).
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