Disciplinary History

Grenada, Mississippi attorney Robbie Elizabeth Willis, who is also licensed in the State of Alabama, was suspended from the practice of law in the State of Alabama by the Supreme Court of Alabama, effective March 18, 2019. The Supreme Court entered its order based upon the Disciplinary Commission’s order that Willis be suspended for failing to comply with the 2017 Mandatory Continuing Legal Education requirements of the Alabama State Bar.

The Alabama Supreme Court entered an order suspending Ft. Payne attorney Sherry Ann Weldon Dobbins from the practice of law in Alabama for a period of 90 days effective March 8, 2019, of which Dobbins was ordered to serve the first 45 days. The remaining 45 days was ordered held in abeyance pending Dobbins’s successful completion of a 2-year probationary period. The Alabama Supreme Court entered its notation based upon the Disciplinary Commission of the Alabama State Bar’s order reflecting Dobbins’s guilty plea in a disciplinary matter to violations of Rules 1.1 [Competence], 1.3 [Diligence], 1.4 [Communication], 8.4(a) and 8.4(g) [Misconduct], Ala. R. Prof. C.

Thibodaux, Louisiana attorney David Winston Ardoin, who is also licensed in the State of Alabama, was ordered by the Disciplinary Board of the Alabama State Bar to receive reciprocal discipline of a one (1) year suspension from the practice of law in the State of Alabama, effective February 28, 2019. The suspension was fully deferred pending completion of a two (2) year probationary period. Ardoin was found guilty of violating Rules 8.4(a) and (b) [Misconduct], of the Louisiana Rules of Professional Conduct based on his arrest for DUI.

On March 12, 2019, the Supreme Court of Alabama issued an order accepting the voluntary surrender of Thomas Glenn Mancuso’s license to practice law in the State of Alabama, with an effective date of February 22, 2019.

Montgomery attorney Christopher Bernard Pitts was disbarred from the practice of law in Alabama effective February 22, 2019 by order of the Supreme Court of Alabama. Pitts’s disbarment was based upon his guilty plea entered in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama to one count of Wire Fraud Affecting a Financial Institution and the corresponding sentence entered November 19, 2018 ordering Pitts to serve thirty-seven (37) months in the custody of the United States Bureau of Prisons.

On February 20, 2019, an attorney was issued a private reprimand for violating Rules 1.3 [Diligence], 1.4 [Communication], and 1.15 [Safekeeping Property], Ala. R. Prof. C. In August of 2014, the attorney was hired to represent a client’s son who was serving a sentence in prison for a 2009 robbery conviction. The client understood that the attorney was going to file a Rule 32 motion in an attempt to have her son released from prison. The attorney agreed on a flat fee of $7,500.00. The client paid $3,000.00 at the time and then paid the rest of the fee in installments. The client’s son died in prison in December of 2015, sixteen months after the client hired the attorney. During that time, the client received no written communication from the attorney. After the client’s son died, the client picked up her file from the attorney’s office. The file consisted only of the trial transcript and other documents that the client had given to the attorney. The client saw no other memos, research or anything else indicating that any work had been actually done for her son.

On February 20, 2019, an attorney received a private reprimand for violating Rules 1.1 [Competence], 1.3 [Diligence] and 1.4 [Communication], 8.4(a), and 8.4(g) [Misconduct] of the Alabama Rules of Professional Conduct. The attorney was hired to file a negligence lawsuit against a hospital involving her client’s father in February of 2014. Between June of 2014 and June of 2015, she attempted to negotiate with the hospital. The attorney filed civil complaint on November 7, 2015. The client experienced difficulty communicating with the attorney. The court issued three orders directing the attorney to amend the complaint, respond to discovery, and also granted an extension to respond to discovery. The attorney failed to comply with the court’s order and, as a result, the case was dismissed.

On February 8, 2019, an attorney was issued a private reprimand for violating Rules 8.4 (b) and (g) [Misconduct], Ala. R. Prof. Conduct. In May 2018, the attorney pleaded guilty to the charge of Harassment.

Millbrook attorney Darren William Kies was suspended from the practice of law in Alabama for a period of one hundred eighty (180) days by the Supreme Court of Alabama effective February 4, 2019, of which Kies was ordered to serve the first ninety (90) days. The remaining ninety (90) days was ordered held in abeyance pending Kies’s successful completion of a two-year probationary period. The Supreme Court entered its notation based upon the Disciplinary Commission of the Alabama State Bar’s order reflecting Kies’s guilty plea in one disciplinary matter to violations of Rules 1.3 [Diligence], 1.4 [Communication], and 8.4(a), and 8.4(g) [Misconduct], Ala. R. Prof. C.

Birmingham attorney Shayana Boyd Davis was suspended from the practice of law for a period of two (2) years in the State of Alabama by the Supreme Court of Alabama, effective January 18, 2019. The Supreme Court entered its order based upon the Disciplinary Board’s Order, wherein Davis was found guilty of violating Rules 1.15(a), (e), and (n) [Safekeeping Property], and 8.4(g) [Misconduct], Ala. R. Prof. C. Davis was suspended for mishandling client funds. Davis deposited earned fees into trust and used funds from one client to make payment on behalf of another client. In addition, Davis overdrew her trust account on multiple occasions. Davis also failed to maintain all trust account records, as required by Rule 1.15, Ala. R. Prof. C.

On November 20, 2018, the Disciplinary Commission determined that an attorney should receive a public reprimand without general publication for violating Rules 1.5, 1.7(a), 1.7(b), 1.8(a), 1.14(a), 3.4(a), 8.4(a), 8.4(d), and 8.4(g), Alabama Rules of Professional Conduct. The attorney was hired by an elderly couple to assist them with an ongoing dispute with the wife’s daughter. The couple expressed they wished to update their estate planning to disinherit the daughter. The wife also wished to file a petition to set aside the guardianship previously established to protect her and revoke the Power of Attorney her daughter held. The attorney failed to execute a fee contract with the clients showing they agreed to his hourly rate or they were reasonably informed of said rate. Both clients executed various estate planning documents and a deed for their home, held jointly with right of survivorship, into the husband’s name only and granted a life estate only to the wife, even though the wife was still deemed incapacitated and her daughter was still her Power of Attorney. Thereafter, the wife also executed a new Last Will and Testament. A revocation of the wife’s Power of Attorney was filed in the Probate Court. However, the Probate Court previously held the wife was not able to revoke her Power of Attorney due to her incapacitation. Thereafter, the attorney filed a Motion for Emergency Petition for Removal of Guardianship Proceedings into Circuit Court. The petition for removal was granted and an Order of Limited Guardianship was issued. The Circuit Court’s order did restrict the daughter’s contact with the wife, found the wife had the ability to manage her monies and bank accounts and transact other business, and ordered the wife should pay fees and costs in such amount and under such terms as the attorney and the husband should agree. A month later, the husband executed a new Last Will and Testament. That same day, he also executed an open-ended second mortgage on the marital home in the attorney’s favor for legal fees. The attorney prepared both wills and the mortgage. On the day of the execution of the documents, the client slipped into a coma and never regained consciousness. The wife was still living in the home and did not sign the mortgage. The terms of the second mortgage provided no payment was required until the clients were either unable to live in the home or upon the husband’s death. The husband died one week after the execution of the will and mortgage. Thereafter, the attorney filed a claim in the amount of $46,544.07 against the husband’s estate. The attorney represented not only the husband’s estate, but also the husband’s niece in the will contest which questioned the validity of the wife’s Last Will and Testament. With the attorney’s conduct in this matter, he violated the Alabama Rules of Professional Conduct and engaged in conduct that adversely reflects on his fitness to practice law. The attorney is also requir

On August 15, 2018, the Disciplinary Commission determined Birmingham attorney Frederic Lamar Washington, I should receive a public reprimand with general publication for violating Rules 1.1, 1.3, 1.4, 1.16(a)(1), 3.3(a), 5.5(a)(1), 8.4(a), 8.4(c), 8.4(d), and 8.4(g), Alabama Rules of Professional Conduct. While Washington was employed with the Legal Aid Society of Birmingham, the Federal District Court for the Northern District of Alabama Court issued an order and made multiple findings of fact regarding his representation of a client and detailed reservations about Washington’s credibility. He failed to fully advise his client regarding a plea agreement and the possibility to receive a lesser sentence, he was unfamiliar with the consecutive mandatory sentencing requirements, and he had no prior experience with a multiple count indictment. Furthermore, Washington informed the Court he would talk to his client about the possibility of settlement but failed to do so. As a result, the Court granted the client’s motion to vacate, set aside, or correct his sentence based upon Washington’s ineffective assistance of counsel and the government was ordered to re-offer the plea agreement to the client. Additionally, Washington engaged in the private practice of law with a special license. With Washington’s conduct in this matter, he violated the Alabama Rules of Professional Conduct and engaged in conduct that adversely reflects on his fitness to practice law. Washington is also required pay any costs taxed against him pursuant to Rule 33, Alabama Rules of Professional Conduct, including but not limited to a $1,000 administrative fee. [ASB No. 2017-1152]

Athens attorney Morris Hammack Bramlett, II was summarily suspended pursuant to Rule 20a, Ala. R. Disc. P., from the practice of law in the State of Alabama by the Supreme Court of Alabama, effective January 11, 2019. The Supreme Court entered its order based upon the Disciplinary Commission’s order that Bramlett be summarily suspended for failing to respond to formal requests for information concerning a disciplinary matter.

On January 11, 2019, an attorney received a private reprimand for violating Rules 8.4(b) and (g) [Misconduct], Alabama Rules of Professional Conduct. On April 25, 2018, the attorney was arrested and charged with Criminal Mischief 3rd Degree (Domestic Violence). The charges stemmed from a domestic dispute between the attorney, the attorney’s ex-boyfriend, and a third-party. During the dispute, the attorney used a garden tool to cause approximately $2,000.00 in damage to the ex-boyfriend’s car. After the attorney’s arrest, the attorney was ordered by the court to have no further contact with the ex-boyfriend. On June 15, 2018, the attorney was arrested and jailed for violating the court’s no-contact order. The attorney subsequently filed a PFA regarding the ex-boyfriend following the arrest. On July 10, 2018, the attorney pled guilty to the charge of Criminal Mischief 3rd Degree (Domestic Violence) as part of a plea agreement for deferred prosecution. As part of the agreement, the attorney was ordered to make restitution, have no contact with the victim or his family, attend counseling, and enroll in the Alabama Lawyer’s Assistance Program. Further, as part of the agreement, the criminal charge for violating the court’s no contact order was nolle prossed.

Birmingham attorney Richard Charles Frier was disbarred from the practice of law in the State of Alabama by Order of the Supreme Court of Alabama, effective January 9, 2019. The Supreme Court entered its order based upon the January 9, 2019 Order of Panel III of the Disciplinary Board of the Alabama State Bar. Frier was found guilty of violating Rules 1.16(a) [Declining or Terminating Representation], 3.4(a) [Fairness to Opposing Parties and Counsel], 8.1(b) [Bar Admission and Disciplinary Matters], and 8.4(d) and (g) [Misconduct], Ala. R. Prof. C. Frier was found guilty of violating the terms and conditions of a prior disciplinary order by engaging in the private practice of law.