December 2023 Discipline

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

Louisiana Supreme Court

  1. Bonnie B. Humphrey. The court granted the petitioner’s application for readmission to the practice of law.
  2. William Chase Gore. The court granted the petition to terminate probation.
  3. Jim S. Hall. The court suspended the respondent for four months, deferred in its entirety. The respondent made a false statement to a tribunal, failed to submit an advertisement for review by the LSBA, and engaged in other violations of the lawyer advertising rules. In doing so, the respondent violated Rules 3.3(a)(1), 3.3(a)(3), 7.2(a)(2), 7.2(c)(1)(1), 7.7(c), 8.4(c), and 8.4(d).
  4. Tristan Patrick Gilley. The court suspended the respondent for a period of six months, with all but ninety days of the suspension deferred. The respondent failed to provide competent representation of a client, neglected a legal matter failed to communicate with a client, failed to make reasonable efforts to expedite litigation, failed to cooperate with the ODC in its investigation, misled a client about the status of his matter, and engaged in conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice. In doing so, the respondent violated 1.1(a), 1.3, 1.4, 3.2, 8.1(b), 8.1(c), 8.4(a), 8.4(c), and 8.4(d).
  5. Kevin Mattgew Dantzler. The court permanently disbarred the respondent. The respondent was arrested twice for possession of controlled dangerous substances and arrested for issuing worthless checks. In doing so, the respondent violated Rules 8.1(c), 8.4(a) and 8.4(b).
  6. Timothy James Martinez. The court granted the petition for interim suspension filed by the Office of Disciplinary Counsel.
  7. J. Antonio Florence. The court suspended the respondent for one year and one day. The respondent failed to address fee disputes on numerous occasions and submitted false statements and false evidence to the ODC. In doing so, the respondent violated Rules 1.4, 1.5(f)(5), 8.4(a), and 8.4(c).
  8. Albert A. Bensabat, III. The court suspended the respondent for three years, deferred in its entirety. The respondent pled guilty to one count of DWI, overdrew his trust account, and failed to reconcile his trust account on a quarterly basis. In doing so, the respondent violated Rules1.15(a), 1.15(f), 8.4(a), and 8.4(b).
  9. Janeane Gorcyca Abbot. The court suspended the respondent from the practice of law for thirty days. The respondent neglected her client’s legal matter, failed to communicate with her client, and failed to inform her client that she had a potential malpractice claim for which she should seek independent counsel. The respondent also misled her client and made false statements to the ODC during its investigation. In doing so, the respondent violated Rules 1.3, 1.4, 1.7, 3.2, 8.1, and 8.4(c).
  10. Andrew Cary Saltamachia. The court granted the petition for transfer to disability inactive status filed by the Office of Disciplinary Counsel.
  11. Cameron Sean Snowden. The court suspended the respondent for nine months. Prior to the formal charges, the ODC had commenced an investigation into allegations that the respondent failed to communicate with clients, neglected legal matters, engaged in dishonest conduct, and engaged in conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice. The respondent admitted that his conduct violated Rules 1.3, 1.4, 8.4(c), and 8.4(d).
  12. Maxwell Peter Smitko. The court suspended the respondent for three years. The respondent practiced law while ineligible to do so, neglected legal matters, failed to communicate with clients, failed to timely refund unearned fees, and failed to cooperate with the ODC in its investigations. In doing so, the respondent violated Rules 1.1(a), 1.3, 1.4, 1.5(f)(5), 8.1(c), and 8.4(c).
  13. Donovan Kenneth Hudson. The court disbarred the respondent. The respondent neglected a legal matter, failed to communicate with a client, failed to refund an unearned fee, committed criminal conduct, engaged in conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice, engaged in dishonest and deceitful conduct, and failed to cooperate with the ODC in its investigation. In doing so, the respondent violated Rules 1.3, 1.4, 1.5(f)(5), 8.1(c), 8.4(a), 8.4(b). and 8.4(c).
  14. Clifton Davis III. The court accepted the joint petition for consent discipline and suspended the respondent for one year and one day. Prior to entering into the consent discipline agreement, the ODC had commenced an investigation into allegations that the respondent practiced law during several periods in which he was ineligible to do so, mishandled his trust account, resulting in the conversion of client funds, and failed to disburse funds owed to third-party providers. In doing so, the respondent violated Rules 1.1(b), 1.1(c), 1.15(a), 1.15(f), 5.5(a), 8.1(b), 8.1(c), 8.4(a), and 8.4(c).
  15. Nicole Burdett. The court accepted the joint petition for consent discipline and suspended the respondent from the practice of law for two years, with six months deferred. The respondent was found guilty by a federal jury of four counts of making and subscribing a false tax return. In doing so, the respondent violated Rules 8.4(a) and 8.4(b).
  16. George R. Knox. The court granted the joint petition for interim suspension.

LADB Hearing Committees

  1. Toni Rachelle Martin. Hearing Committee # 7 recommended that the respondent be suspended for six months, with three months deferred. The respondent failed to immediately refund the unearned portion of a fee owed to a client. In doing so, the respondent violated Rules 1.5(f)(5) and 1.16(d).
  2. Timothy Baron Holden. Hearing Committee # 9 recommended that the petitioner be reinstated to the practice of law.
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