Thank You for Your Service!

Ms. Bizzarro accepts the Louisiana Supreme Court's Certificate of Appreciation from the Hon. John T. Olivier, Clerk of Court (left). Ms. Theriot, Ms. Hennen and Mr. Williamson, pictured outside the Louisiana Supreme Court after being presented Certificates of Appreciation at a ceremony held at the Louisiana Supreme Court on December 7, 2021 (right). Photos courtesy of the LASC.

As the close of 2021 draws near, we recognize several Board members whose terms will soon come to an end.

Linda G. Bizzarro has served two terms as a lawyer member of the Board.  During her second term, Linda was the Board’s Vice-Chair in 2020 and later its Chair in 2021.  Prior to her appointment to the Board in 2016, Linda served on a hearing committee for two terms.  She is a resident of New Orleans. 
Laura B. Hennen, a resident of Monroe, has served as a lawyer member of the Board since 2016.  She was elected to serve as the Board’s Vice-Chair in 2021 and has also served as a panel chair of the Adjudicative Committee.
Melissa L. Theriot of Lafayette has served the Agency as a lawyer member of a hearing committee and later as a Board member. Her tenure as a hearing committee member spanned from 2000-2005 and then from 2009 to 2015.  As a Board member since 2016, she has served as a panel chair of the Adjudicative Committee.
Charles H. Williamson, Jr. was appointed to the Board as a public member in 2016, and he has served two terms on the Board.  Charles brought the public’s perspective to the Board’s deliberations.  He is a resident of Baton Rouge.

Linda, Laura, Melissa, and Charles have diligently and admirably served the Court, the Board, the members of legal profession, and most importantly, the citizens of the State of Louisiana.  The Board extends its sincere thanks for their dedication and leadership.

Recent Rules and Decisions

IN RE ROBERT M. WATERWALL (Ruston), 2021-B-014437 (12/21/2021): The Court suspended the respondent for one year and one day for practicing law while ineligible to do so and abandoning his law practice and client files. The factual allegations in the formal charges were deemed admitted pursuant to Louisiana Supreme Court Rule XIX, §11(E)(3).

IN RE SAMUEL ROBERT AUCOIN (Patterson), 2021-B-00847 (12/7/2021): The Court suspended the respondent for one year and one day for practicing law while ineligible for failing to comply with his 2018 MCLE requirements. While attempting to cure his ineligibility, the respondent provided the LSBA with an altered certificate of completion for a CLE course and provided false statements regarding the certificate to ODC and the hearing committee.

IN RE DWAN S. HILFERTY (Metairie), 2021-B-01007 (12/10/2021): The Court suspended the respondent for one year and one day, with six months deferred, for neglecting two legal matters and failing to communicate with her clients over the course of approximately two decades. The respondent also failed to fully cooperate with the ODC in its investigation of the two disciplinary complaints. The factual allegations in the formal charges were deemed admitted pursuant to Louisiana Supreme Court Rule XIX, §11(E)(3), and a hearing in mitigation was held.

IN RE DEVONNA M. PONTHIEU (Denham Springs), 2021-B-01151 (12/10/2021): The Court suspended the respondent for nine months, with six months deferred, for conveying a $100,000 settlement offer to opposing counsel (at her client’s insistence), in exchange for which the respondent’s client indicated that she would not appear at the opposing party’s criminal trial.

Consent Discipline:

ELIZABETH H. ICAMINA (New Orleans), 2021-B-01449 (12/21/2021): The Court suspended the respondent for three years, with eighteen months deferred, for mismanaging her client trust account, which resulted in commingling and conversion.

IN RE RONALD SIDNEY HALEY, JR. (Baton Rouge), 2021-B-01466 (12/7/2021): The Court suspended the respondent for one year and one day, with all but six months deferred, for neglecting a legal matter, failing to communicate with a client, inappropriately attempting to settle a malpractice claim with a client, and failing to return a client’s file upon request.

IN RE SONYA ELOYACE HALL (Baton Rouge), 2021-B-01389 (12/21/2021): The Court suspended the respondent for one year and one day, with all but thirty days deferred, for mismanaging her client trust account and failing to cooperate with ODC’s investigation.

IN RE LOLITA M. WHITMORE (St. Gabriel), 2021-B-01507 (12/7/2021): The Court suspended the respondent for one year, fully deferred, for neglecting a legal matter and failing to communicate with a client.