On August 9, 2023, Hearing Committee #5 of the Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board filed its Report recommending a one-year suspension of attorney Ned Franklin Pierce Sonnier, Sr. over allegations of abandoning his practice and clients and other misconduct.
The case is entitled “In the Matter of Ned Franklin Pierce Sonnier, Sr.,” and was brought by the Office of Disciplinary Counsel, case no. 23-DB-019.
The charges cited Sonnier’s violation of Rules 1.3, 1.4, 1.5(f), 1.16(d), 8.1(C), and 8.4(a),(c), and (d).
The Louisiana Rules of Professional Conduct can be found here.
Sonnier, admitted to the Louisiana Bar in 2017, initially practiced in Scott, but in December 2021, he abruptly abandoned his law practice and left for California, where he was living out of his car. The Office of Disciplinary Counsel (ODC) received several complaints against Sonnier, detailing his failure to communicate, represent and properly handle clients’ legal matters. These complaints encompass a range of issues, including failing to file lawsuits, not appearing in court, mishandling client funds, abandoning clients, and failing to update his address and cooperate with the disciplinary investigation.
According to the Hearing Committee’s report, Sonnier was suspended by the Court on an interim basis on April 8, 2022, in response to the ODC’s emergency petition for interim suspension for threat of harm.
On March 21, 2023, formal charges were filed against the respondent. However, attempts to deliver the charges via certified mail to the respondent’s primary and secondary registration addresses, as well as two other known addresses, were unsuccessful as the mailings were returned. Moreover, Sonnier failed to file an answer to the charges within the designated time frame.
Consequently, the ODC filed a motion to consider the factual allegations admitted. An order was subsequently issued deeming the factual allegations admitted. The ODC later submitted its recommendation on the appropriate sanction.
In view of the foregoing facts and discussion, the Committee has determined that the admitted facts establish violations of the counts mentioned in the formal charges and recommended a one-year and one-day suspension from the practice of law for Sonnier with no credit received for the time served under interim suspension.
Mr. Ned Franklin Pierce Sonnier, Sr. attended Louisiana State University, Paul M. Hebert Law Center. He has been admitted to practice in Louisiana in 2017. His info can be found on Avvo.com.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
