Disciplinary History

Columbus, Georgia attorney Joseph Wiley, Jr.., who is also licensed in Alabama, was suspended from the practice of law in the State of Alabama by the Supreme Court of Alabama, effective August 28, 2019. The Supreme Court entered its order based upon the Disciplinary Commission’s order that Wiley be suspended for failing to comply with the 2018 Mandatory Continuing Legal Education requirements of the Alabama State Bar.

New Orleans, Louisiana attorney Brent Louis Rosen, who is also licensed in Alabama, was suspended from the practice of law in the State of Alabama by the Supreme Court of Alabama, effective August 28, 2019. The Supreme Court entered its order based upon the Disciplinary Commission’s order that Rosen be suspended for failing to comply with the 2018 Mandatory Continuing Legal Education requirements of the Alabama State Bar.

Alfred Dudlow Norris, III, who formerly practiced law in Montgomery, was suspended from the practice of law in the State of Alabama by the Supreme Court of Alabama, effective August 28, 2019. The Supreme Court entered its order based upon the Disciplinary Commission’s order that Norris be suspended for failing to comply with the 2018 Mandatory Continuing Legal Education requirements of the Alabama State Bar.

Johns Creek, Georgia attorney Raymond Eric Powers, III, who is also licensed in Alabama, was suspended from the practice of law in the State of Alabama by the Supreme Court of Alabama, effective August 28, 2019. The Supreme Court entered its order based upon the Disciplinary Commission’s order that Powers be suspended for failing to comply with the 2018 Mandatory Continuing Legal Education requirements of the Alabama State Bar.

Dothan attorney James Garrett Jeffreys was suspended from the practice of law in the State of Alabama by the Supreme Court of Alabama, effective August 28, 2019. The Supreme Court entered its order based upon the Disciplinary Commission’s order that Jeffreys be suspended for failing to comply with the 2018 Mandatory Continuing Legal Education requirements of the Alabama State Bar.

Birmingham attorney Elliot Jacob Labovitz was suspended from the practice of law in the State of Alabama by the Supreme Court of Alabama, effective August 28, 2019. The Supreme Court entered its order based upon the Disciplinary Commission’s order that Labovitz be suspended for failing to comply with the 2018 Mandatory Continuing Legal Education requirements of the Alabama State Bar.

Pinson attorney Rebecca Mae Graf was suspended from the practice of law in the State of Alabama by the Supreme Court of Alabama, effective August 28, 2019. The Supreme Court entered its order based upon the Disciplinary Commission’s order that Graf be suspended for failing to comply with the 2018 Mandatory Continuing Legal Education requirements of the Alabama State Bar.

Los Angeles, California attorney Sesie Kofi Bonsi, who is also licensed in Alabama, was suspended from the practice of law in the State of Alabama by the Supreme Court of Alabama, effective August 28, 2019. The Supreme Court entered its order based upon the Disciplinary Commission’s order that Bonsi be suspended for failing to comply with the 2018 Mandatory Continuing Legal Education requirements of the Alabama State Bar.

Meridian, Mississippi attorney Joseph Anthony Denson, who is also licensed in Alabama, was suspended from the practice of law in the State of Alabama by the Supreme Court of Alabama, effective August 28, 2019. The Supreme Court entered its order based upon the Disciplinary Commission’s order that Denson be suspended for failing to comply with the 2018 Mandatory Continuing Legal Education requirements of the Alabama State Bar.

Dallas, Texas attorney Michael Clark Dodd, who is also licensed in Alabama, was suspended from the practice of law in the State of Alabama by the Supreme Court of Alabama, effective August 28, 2019. The Supreme Court entered its order based upon the Disciplinary Commission’s order that Dodd be suspended for failing to comply with the 2018 Mandatory Continuing Legal Education requirements of the Alabama State Bar.

Homewood attorney Christopher Ramsey Duck was suspended from the practice of law in the State of Alabama by the Supreme Court of Alabama, effective August 28, 2019. The Supreme Court entered its order based upon the Disciplinary Commission’s order that Duck be suspended for failing to comply with the 2018 Mandatory Continuing Legal Education requirements of the Alabama State Bar.

Birmingham attorney Nancy Lee Franklin was suspended from the practice of law in the State of Alabama by the Supreme Court of Alabama, effective August 28, 2019. The Supreme Court entered its order based upon the Disciplinary Commission’s order that Franklin be suspended for failing to comply with the 2018 Mandatory Continuing Legal Education requirements of the Alabama State Bar.

On March 23, 2019, the Disciplinary Board determined Louisiana attorney Lauren G. Coleman received reciprocal discipline in the form of suspension from the practice of law in Alabama for a term of 1 year and 1 day suspension, which will be held in abeyance while Coleman serves a 1-year probationary term effective August 23, 2019. On February 11, 2019, the Louisiana Supreme Court ordered Coleman suspended for 1 year and 1 day to be held in abeyance while Coleman serves a 1-year probationary term for employing a disbarred attorney as a paralegal in Coleman’s law firm, violating Rule 5.5, Louisiana Rules of Professional Conduct. Coleman is also required to pay any costs taxed against her pursuant to Rule 33, Alabama Rules of Disciplinary Procedure, including but not limited to a $1,000 administrative fee. [Rule 25(a), Pet. 2019-273]

On August 23, 2019, an attorney was issued a private reprimand for violating Rules 1.3 [Diligence], 1.4 [Communication] and 8.4(d) and (g) [Misconduct], Alabama Rules of Professional Conduct. In 2014, a client hired the attorney to handle her late husband’s estate. The client presented the attorney with a will the husband prepared in 2005. The probate court rejected the will as it did not meet legal requirements. The attorney then filed a petition for letters of administration on March 19, 2015; the probate court issued an order granting letters of administration that same day. The estate was a simple one, consisting of a 1996 Ford truck and two parcels of real property. The six-month waiting period expired on September 19, 2015 without any creditor claims being filed against the estate. On April 1, 2016, more than six months after the six-month period for creditor claims had expired, the attorney filed a petition for final settlement. Thereafter, the client repeatedly contacted the attorney’s office for an update on the status of the closing of the estate. According to the client, the attorney’s office ignored her. The client provided a copy of a November 8, 2018 letter the probate court administrator issued to the attorney recounting previous efforts to obtain a consent from the bonding company to close the estate. In 2016, the probate court attempted to contact the attorney by either phone or e-mail on April 1, April 28, June 23, and August 2, to obtain the necessary consent. In 2017, the probate court e-mailed the attorney on January 11, April 3, and September 4 in order to obtain the required consent necessary to close the estate. However, the attorney failed to respond to the court’s and the client’s requests. On November 8, 2018, the probate court again contacted the attorney regarding filing the bonding company’s consent to close the estate. This time, the attorney obtained the necessary consent and filed it with the probate court on November 29, 2018; the probate court issued a formal order closing the estate the next day. However, the attorney failed to forward a copy of the final order to the client. The attorney did not forward a copy of the order to the client until April 3, 2019, after the client had filed a complaint against the attorney.

On August 23, 2019, the Disciplinary Commission issued a private reprimand to an attorney for violating Rules 1.4 [Communication] and 8.4(d) and (g) [Misconduct], Alabama Rules of Professional Conduct. On October 19, 2017, the trial court sentenced a criminal defendant to 99 years for murder and abuse of a corpse. On October 24, 2017, the court appointed the attorney to represent the defendant on appeal. The client alleged the attorney failed to communicate with him during the pendency of the appeal, failed to provide him copies of the briefs filed on his behalf, and failed to inform him that the appellate court denied his appeal. The attorney did not dispute the client’s allegations and admitted he failed to adequately communicate with the client during the appeal and failed to provide him copies of filings and orders.