September 2023 Discipline

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

Louisiana Supreme Court

  1. Christie Clark Wood. The court granted the joint petition for consent discipline and ordered the respondent be publicly reprimanded. Prior to the filing of the petition for consent discipline, the ODC commended an investigation into allegations that the respondent negligently mishandled her client trust account.
  2. Shannon Rodriguez. The court granted the joint petition for consent discipline and suspended the respondent from the practice of law for one year and one day. Respondent failed to comply with subpoenas in three separate investigation conducted by the Office of Disciplinary Counsel (“ODC”), refused to respond to and cooperate with the ODC in the investigation of a disciplinary complaint concerning the filing of a motion for continuance containing a fraudulent signature, and made misrepresentations to the ODC regarding her improper deposit into and receipt of funds from another attorney’s client trust account. Following the filing of formal charges, respondent and the ODC submitted a joint petition for consent discipline.
  3. Justin M. Marquez. The court granted the joint petition for consent discipline and suspended the respondent for one year and one day, with all but 30 days deferred. Prior to the filing of the joint petition for consent discipline, the ODC commenced an investigation into allegations that the respondent neglected a legal matter. The respondent subsequently failed to cooperate with the ODC in its investigation.
  4. Kevin C. Hayes. The court granted the joint petition for consent discipline and suspended the respondent from the practice of law for eighteen months, with all but one year deferred. The respondent engaged in conduct involving instances of domestic violence and simple battery.
  5. Willard J. Brown, Sr. The court granted the petition for permanent retirement from the practice of law.
  6. Craig J. Fontenot. The court suspended the respondent for one year and one day. The respondent committed a single DWI offense but failed to cooperate with the disciplinary investigation. In doing so, the respondent violated Rules 8.4(b) and 8.4(c).
  7. Alvin C. Dowden, Jr. The court granted the joint petition for consent discipline and suspended the respondent for a year and a day, deferred in its entirety. Prior to filing the joint petition for consent discipline, the ODC commenced an investigation into allegations that the respondent improperly notarized a donation inter vivos and was arrested for DWI and possession of marijuana.
  8. Donald Dobbins. The court denied the petition for reinstatement.
  9. Michael L. Cohen. The court granted the joint petition for consent discipline and suspended the respondent for one year and one day, deferred in its entirety. Prior to the filing of the joint petition for consent discipline, the ODC commenced an investigation into allegations that the respondent was arrested for driving while intoxication.
  10. George R. Tucker. The court granted the joint petition for consent discipline and publicly reprimanded the respondent. Respondent failed to reply to two disciplinary complaints filed against him with the Office of Disciplinary Counsel (“ODC”), and failed to appear for a sworn statement in response to a subpoena. Following the filing of formal charges, respondent and the ODC submitted a joint petition for consent discipline, in which the parties agree that respondent failed to cooperate with the ODC in its investigation, in violation of Rule 8.1(c) of the Rules of Professional Conduct.
  11. J. Quentin Simon. The court granted the joint petition for consent discipline and suspended the respondent from the practice of law for one year and one day, deferred in its entirety. Prior to the filing of the petition for consent discipline, the ODC commenced an investigation into allegations that the respondent failed to properly supervise a non-lawyer employee, resulting in the employee’s embezzlement of funds belonging to the respondent.
  12. Sonya Eloyance Hall. The court granted the joint motion for revocation of probation and imposed the previously-deferred portion of the one year and one day suspension imposed in the prior case of discipline.
  13. Donovan Raymond Francis. The court granted the petition for consent discipline and suspended the respondent for a period of six months, deferred in its entirety. Prior to the filing of the joint petition for consent discipline, the ODC commenced an investigation into allegations that the respondent mishandled his client trust account. The respondent then failed to cooperate with the ODC in its investigation.

Louisiana Attorney Discipline Board

  1. Michelle Odinet. The board dismissed the formal charges that were filed against the Respondent.

LADB Hearing Committees

  1. Blake G. Williams. Hearing Committee #9 recommended that the court deny the petitioner’s petition and application for readmission to the practice of law.
  2. Melissa Michelle Ramsey Eldridge. Hearing Committee #30 recommended that the court disbar the respondent. The respondent neglected legal matters, failed to communicate with clients, failed to notify clients that she was ineligible to practice law, failed to return unearned fees, and failed to cooperate with the ODC in its investigation. In doing so, the respondent violated Rules 1.3, 1.4, 1,5, 1.15(a), 1.15(d), 1.16, 8.1(b), 8.1(c), and 8.4(a) and (c).
  3. Charles Edward Brumfield. Hearing Committee #02 recommended that the formal charges against the respondent be dismissed.
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