On Wednesday, August 23, 2023, the Supreme Court of Alabama suspended attorney Edward Hopkins Pradat for having a sexual relationship with a client.
The case is entitled “In the Matter of Edward Hopkins Pradat,”
The charges cited Alabama Rules of Professional Conduct g Rules 1.8(a), 1.15, 8.4(b), (c), and(g).
Attorney Edward Hopkins Pradat has been suspended from practicing law in the state for a period of 180 days, according to an Order from the Supreme Court of Alabama, effective from August 23, 2023. This decision follows the Disciplinary Commission’s order of July 18, 2023, which accepted Pradat’s conditional guilty plea. Pradat confessed to violating multiple sections of the Alabama Rules of Professional Conduct.
The case involved Pradat’s initial denial of a sexual relationship with a client, which he later admitted was consensual. He maintained that the relationship occurred during a period when he was not actively representing the client legally. Despite his initial denial, he eventually acknowledged providing money to the client to procure prescription medication on his behalf, specifically Adderall. Furthermore, Pradat was found to have borrowed funds from a client’s trust account without adhering to Rule 1.8(a) of the Alabama Rules of Professional Conduct. Additionally, he was found to have commingled personal and client funds in his trust account, failing to maintain proper trust account records.
The suspension underscores the significance of upholding professional conduct standards and ethical responsibilities within the legal profession. The Supreme Court’s order reflects a commitment to maintaining integrity and accountability among legal practitioners.
According to Avvo, Mr. Pradat is a criminal defense attorney in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. He attended the University of Alabama, graduating in 1974. He acquired his law license in Alabama in 1979.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
