On Tuesday, April 25, 2023, the Supreme Court of the State of Louisiana ordered the public reprimand of West Monroe attorney Tonya Francelle Courson based on the disciplinary charges filed against the latter alleging negligence and failure to refund an unearned fee.
The case is styled “In re: Tonya Francelle Courson” and was brought by the Office of Disciplinary Counsel (ODC), under case no. 2023-B-0365.
The charges cited Courson’s violation of Rules 1.3, 1.5, and 1.16 of the Rules of Professional Conduct.
The Louisiana Rules of Professional Conduct can be found here.
According to the court filing, an investigation was commenced by the ODC into allegations that Courson neglected a legal matter and failed to promptly return an unearned fee.
The filing states:
“Prior to the filing of formal charges, respondent and the Office of Disciplinary Counsel (“ODC”) submitted a joint petition for consent discipline.”
After reviewing the petition, the Court deemed it appropriate to accept the parties’ petition and ruled for Courson’s public reprimand.
The disposition reads:
“IT IS ORDERED that the Petition for Consent Discipline be accepted and that Tonya Francelle Courson, Louisiana Bar Roll number 25633, be publicly reprimanded.”
Costs and expenses incurred in the proceeding were also assessed against Courson.
Ms. Courson practices in West Monroe, and she has been admitted to practice in Louisiana in 1998. She attended Mississippi College School of Law, graduating in 1998. Her info can be found on LawyerDB.org.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
