Recent Decisions From the Louisiana Supreme Court

IN RE JAMES E. MOORMAN, III (Covington), 2017-B-0431, (4/24/17):  The Court suspended the respondent for three years, retroactive to the date of his interim suspension (10/21/13), for neglecting his clients’ legal matters, failing to refund unearned fees, and failing to properly supervise his non-lawyer staff.

IN RE JOHNNY S. ANZALONE, (Alexandria), 2017-B-0387, (5/12/17): The Court suspended the respondent for one year and one day, retroactive to the date of his interim suspension (5/16/14), based upon two convictions for DWI and testing positive for cocaine.

Deemed Admitted Matters (Louisiana Supreme Court Rule XIX, Section 11(E)(3)):

IN RE LANCE HAC NGUYEN (Houston), 2017-B-0214, (4/13/17):  The Court enjoined the respondent from seeking admission to the practice of law in Louisiana for a period of one year and one day for communicating with a criminal defendant without the permission of the defendant’s counsel.

IN RE MARK ANTHONY JOHNSON (Hahnville), 2017-B-0262, (4/24/17): The Court suspended the respondent for one year and one day for practicing law while ineligible to do so, operating a vehicle while intoxicated, and failing to cooperate with the ODC in its investigation.

Consent Discipline:

IN RE HUGH B. EXNICIOS, JR. (Folsom), 2017-B-0519, (5/1/17): The Court suspended the respondent for six months, fully deferred, for mishandling his client trust account and threatening to bring a disciplinary complaint against an attorney in an effort to gain an advantage in a civil case.

IN RE DWIGHT D. POIRRIER (Gonzales), 2017-B-0370, (5/12/17): The Court suspended the respondent for one year and one day, fully deferred, based upon two arrests for driving under the influence of alcohol.

IN RE ANNA C. SIMMONS (Baton Rouge), 2017-B-0621, (5/19/17): The Court suspended the respondent for six months, fully deferred, for commingling client funds with her personal funds.

Permanent Resignation in Lieu of Discipline:

IN RE RICHARD F. PRICE, JR. (Metairie), 2017-B-0659, (5/19/17)