54 Texas Bar Journal • January 2017 texasbar.com

DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS

Contact the Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel at (512) 453-5535,the Board of Disciplinary Appeals at (512) 475-1578 or txboda.org,

or the State Commission on Judicial Conduct at (512) 463-5533.

matters and to promptly comply withreasonable requests for information,failed to hold funds belonging to clientsthat were in Chaumette’s possession inconnection with representation in atrust account and, upon receiving fundsin which his clients had an interest,failed to promptly deliver to his clientsthe funds that they were entitled toreceive. Chaumette also engaged inconduct involving dishonesty, fraud,deceit, or misrepresentation and failedto timely furnish to the Office of ChiefDisciplinary Counsel a response orother information as required by theTexas Rules of Disciplinary Procedure.

Chaumette violated Rules 1.03(a),1.14(a), 1.14(b), 8.04(a)(3), and 8.04(a)(8).He was ordered to pay $66,000 in resti-tution and $2,105 in attorneys’ fees anddirect expenses.

On September 2, 2016, ChristopherAnthony Flores [#00793735], 47, of SanAntonio, was disbarred. An evidentiarypanel of the District 10 GrievanceCommittee found that Flores engagedin conduct involving a serious crime.

Flores violated Rule 8.04(a)(2). Hewas ordered to pay $2,205 in attorneys’fees and direct expenses.

On October 3, 2016, Philip M. Grazier[#08342500], 64, of San Marcos, wasdisbarred. An evidentiary panel of theDistrict 15 Grievance Committeefound that Grazier neglected a client’smatter, failed to communicate with aclient, failed to refund unearned fees,engaged in the practice of law whilehis law license was suspended, andfailed to respond to the grievance.

Grazier violated Rules 1.01(b)(1),1.03(a), 1.03(b), 1.15(d), 8.04(a)(8),and 8.04(a)(11). He was ordered topay $750 in restitution and $1,947.70in attorneys’ fees and direct expenses.

On August 15, 2016, Jay StevenPearlman [#15689950], 61, of Richmond,was disbarred. An evidentiary panel of

the District 5 Grievance Committeefound that Pearlman failed to keep hisclients reasonably informed about thestatus of their legal matters and tocomply with reasonable requests forinformation and, upon receiving fundsin which his clients had an interest,failed to promptly notify them and topromptly deliver the funds. Upon ter-mination of representation, Pearlmanfailed to surrender papers to a client towhich she was entitled. Pearlman alsofailed to explain a legal matter to theextent reasonably necessary to permithis client to make an informed decisionregarding the representation, and heengaged in conduct involving dishonesty,fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation inregard to his representation of a client.

Pearlman violated Rules 1.03(a),1.03(b), 1.14(b), 1.15(d), and 8.04(a)(3).He was ordered to pay $24,283 in resti-tution and $1,465 in attorneys’ fees anddirect expenses.

Pearlman has filed an appeal.

On September 1, 2016, Erin ElizabethStanley [#24059264], 33, of Houston,was disbarred. An evidentiary panel ofthe District 4 Grievance Committeefound that Stanley committed a criminalact that reflects adversely on her honesty,trustworthiness, or fitness as a lawyerin other respects and engaged in thepractice of law when her right to practicehad been suspended.

Stanley violated Rules 8.04(a)(2) and8.04(a)(11). She was ordered to pay $1,535in attorneys’ fees and direct expenses.

RESIGNATIONSOn October 18, 2016, the Supreme

Court of Texas accepted the resignationin lieu of discipline of Sydney MarmionWeaver [#00795712], 63, of Odessa.At the time of the resignation, therewere 11 disciplinary actions pendingalleging Weaver neglected clients’matters; failed to communicate withclients and keep clients reasonablyinformed; failed to hold clients’ funds

BODAOn November 18, 2016, the Board

of Disciplinary Appeals signed anagreed judgment of indefinite disabilitysuspension against Georgetown attorneyPaul Womack [#21877500], 69, inaccordance with Part XII of the TexasRules of Disciplinary Procedure andsection 8 of the Internal ProceduralRules of the Board of DisciplinaryAppeals. BODA Cause No. 58368.

DISBARMENTSOn September 7, 2016, David A.

Chaumette [#00787235], 48, of SugarLand, was disbarred. An evidentiarypanel of the District 4 GrievanceCommittee found that Chaumettefailed to keep his clients reasonablyinformed about the status of their legal

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texasbar.com/tbj Vol. 80, No. 1 • Texas Bar Journal 55

in a trust account; failed to provide afull accounting of fees; failed to returnunearned fees; failed to return clients’files; withdrew from representation andfailed to protect the clients’ interests;accepted employment in legal mattersbeyond her competence; failed to givecandid advice about a client’s legalmatter; failed to supervise her non-lawyerstaff; permitted the conduct of a non-lawyer to be in violation of disciplinaryrules; shared legal fees with a non-lawyer; engaged in conduct involvingfraud, deceit, or misrepresentation; andfailed to respond to grievances.

Weaver violated Rules 1.01(a), 1.01(b)(1),1.03(a)(b), 1.14(a)(b), 1.14(c), 1.15(b)(1),1.15(d), 2.01, 5.03(a), 5.03(b)(1),5.03(b)(2), 8.04(a)(3), and 8.04(a)(8).

SUSPENSIONSOn October 31, 2016, Luis Javier

Corona [#04837375], 55, of CorpusChristi, accepted a one-year fully pro-bated suspension, effective November1, 2016. The 214th District Court ofNueces County, in connection withthree client matters, found Coronaneglected a legal matter entrusted to him;failed to abide by a client’s decisionsconcerning the objectives and generalmethods of representation; failed tokeep a client reasonably informed aboutthe status of a matter and promptlycomply with reasonable requests forinformation; failed to hold funds andother property belonging in whole orin part to clients or third persons in hispossession separate from his own prop-erty; failed, upon receiving funds orother property in which a client or thirdperson had an interest, to promptlynotify the client or third person and ren-der a full accounting upon request; failedto reasonably protect a client’s interests;improperly communicated with one rep-resented by counsel; failed to supervise anon-lawyer employee; for violating theseRules, knowingly assisted or inducedanother to do so, or did so through theacts of another; and failed to respondto a grievance in a timely manner.

Corona violated Rules 1.01(b)(1),1.02(a), 1.03(a), 1.14(a), 1.14(b), 1.15(d),4.02(a), 5.03, 8.04(a)(1), and 8.04(a)(8).

that he was suspended, misrepresentedto his client that he was his attorney,and gave the client legal advice. DuringEaton’s active suspension, he held him-self out as an attorney using his lawfirm letterhead and email address. Onor about November 16, 2015, Eaton e-filed a petition in which he misrepre-sented or forged the signature ofanother attorney, without that attor-ney’s permission.

Eaton violated Rules 1.01(b)(1),1.15(a), 8.04(a)(3), 8.04(a)(7), and8.04(a)(11). He was ordered to pay$1,350 in restitution and $1,250 inattorneys’ fees and direct expenses.

On October 10, 2016, Roland M.Ferguson Jr. [#00786425], 61, of Sul-phur Springs, received a one-year par-tially probated suspension effectiveOctober 7, 2016, with the first monthactively suspended and the remainderprobated. An evidentiary panel of theDistrict 1 Grievance Committee found

He was ordered to pay $1,646.50 inrestitution and $1,485.55 in attorneys’fees.

On September 30, 2016, BrennaMichele Crane [#24069616], 35, ofEdna, received a five-year partially pro-bated suspension effective December 1,2016, with the first three years activelysuspended and the remainder probated.An evidentiary panel of the District 5Grievance Committee found that intwo separate representations, Craneneglected the legal matter entrusted toher, failed to keep the client reasonablyinformed about the status of the case,failed to promptly comply with reason-able requests for information from herclient, and failed to timely furnish tothe Office of Chief Disciplinary Coun-sel a response or other information asrequired by the Texas Rules of Discipli-nary Procedure. In one of the represen-tations, Crane also committed a seriouscrime or another criminal act thatreflects adversely on her honesty, trust-worthiness, or fitness as a lawyer inother respects and engaged in conductinvolving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, ormisrepresentation.

Crane violated Rules 1.01(b)(1),1.03(a), 8.04(a)(2), 8.04(a)(3), and8.04(a)(8). She was ordered to pay$1,195.85 in attorneys’ fees and directexpenses.

On November 8, 2016, Michael W.Eaton [#06383800], 58, of Dallas, agreedto a 12-month active suspension effec-tive January 1, 2017. An evidentiarypanel of the District 7 GrievanceCommittee found that on March 28,2014, complainants hired Eaton torepresent them in connection with aproperty tax matter. In representingthe complainants, Eaton neglected thelegal matter entrusted to him by failingto timely serve the petition on theadverse party thereby allowing the mat-ter to be dismissed and barred by thestatute of limitations. On November 1,2015, Eaton was actively suspendedfrom the practice of law for a period oftwo months. During his active suspen-sion, Eaton failed to inform his client

DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS

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56 Texas Bar Journal • January 2017 texasbar.com

Fisher by telephone and email regard-ing the status of the cases, but Fisherfailed to respond. Further, Fisher failedto take any action to negotiate withthe third debtor. Therefore, the com-plainant hired another attorney to rep-resent his company. When terminated,Fisher agreed to provide an invoice forservices rendered and to return unearnedfees. Fisher stated that it would takehim “some time” to pay the refund andthat it would be paid in installments,indicating that the funds had not beenmaintained in a trust or escrow account.Fisher failed to provide any invoice orrefund.

Fisher violated Rules 1.01(b)(1),1.03(a), 1.14(a), and 1.15(d). He wasordered to pay $5,000 in restitutionand $849.21 in attorneys’ fees anddirect expenses.

On November 1, 2016, Robert JamesFord [#00798184], 53, of San Antonio,agreed to a two-year partially probatedsuspension effective December 1, 2016,with the first three months activelyserved and the remainder probated.An evidentiary panel of the District 10Grievance Committee found Ford neg-lected clients’ matters, failed to com-municate with clients, failed to refundunearned fees, failed to withdraw fromrepresentation, and failed to return aclient’s file.

Ford violated Rules 1.01(b)(1),1.03(a), 1.15(a)(2), and 1.15(d). He wasordered to pay $3,500 in restitutionand $1,300 in attorneys’ fees.

On November 14, 2016, KeithMatthew Gould [#00795885], 55, ofCorpus Christi, accepted a one-yearfully probated suspension effectiveNovember 15, 2016. An evidentiarypanel of the District 11 GrievanceCommittee found that Gould sharedlegal fees with a non-lawyer employee.

Gould violated Rules 5.01(a) and5.04(a). He was ordered to pay $4,850in attorneys’ fees and direct expenses.

On November 14, 2016, KeithMatthew Gould [#00795885], 55, ofCorpus Christi, accepted a six-month

promptly comply with reasonablerequests for information from hisclient. Further, upon termination ofthe representation, Ferguson failed torefund advance payments of fees thathad not been earned.

Ferguson violated Rules 1.03(a) and1.15(d). He was ordered to pay $1,200in restitution and $2,175 in attorneys’fees and direct expenses.

On October 27, 2016, Ray Fisher[#07057400], 64, of Austin, received athree-year partially probated suspension,with one month actively suspendedand the remainder probated. An eviden-tiary panel of the District 9 GrievanceCommittee found that Fisher was hiredto represent the complainant’s companyto resolve three debt collection matters.The complainant paid Fisher an advancedfee of $5,000. In May 2014, two debtorsfiled suit against the complainant’scompany. The complainant attemptedon numerous occasions to contact

that Ferguson was hired to representhis client in a divorce matter. Fergusonfailed to keep his client reasonablyinformed about the status of his legalmatter and failed to promptly complywith reasonable requests for informationfrom his client.

Ferguson violated Rule 1.03(a). Hewas ordered to pay $2,164.27 in attorneys’fees and direct expenses.

On October 10, 2016, Roland M.Ferguson Jr. [#00786425], 61, of Sul-phur Springs, received a two-year par-tially probated suspension effectiveOctober 7, 2016, with the first sixmonths actively suspended and theremainder probated. An evidentiarypanel of the District 1 GrievanceCommittee found that Ferguson washired to represent his client in a familylaw matter involving a child custodydispute. Ferguson failed to keep hisclient reasonably informed about thestatus of her legal matter and failed to

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texasbar.com/tbj Vol. 80, No. 1 • Texas Bar Journal 57

doing so through the acts of another],and 8.04(a)(3) [for engaging in conductinvolving deceit or misrepresentation].

Livesay was ordered to pay $2,292 inattorneys’ fees.

On October 12, 2016, BenjaminRobert Peppard [#24083647], 32, ofTyler, received a three-year partiallyprobated suspension effective October15, 2016, with the first year activelyserved and the remainder probated. Anevidentiary panel of the District 7Grievance Committee found that Pep-pard neglected a legal matter entrustedto him; failed to keep his client reason-ably informed about the status of theclient’s civil matter and failed to promptlycomply with reasonable requests forinformation from his client; upon ter-mination of this representation, failedto surrender papers and property towhich his client was entitled; and failedto timely furnish a response to theOffice of Chief Disciplinary Counsel as

required by the Texas Rules of Discipli-nary Procedure and did not in goodfaith timely assert a privilege or otherlegal ground for failure to do so.

Peppard violated Rules 1.01(b)(1),1.03(a), 1.15(d), and 8.04(a)(8). He wasordered to pay $2,365 in attorneys’ feesand $335 in direct expenses.

On May 24, 2016, Harold BrandonPrice [#24049263], 45, of Dallas,received a two-year partially probatedsuspension, with the first year activelysuspended and the reminder probated.An evidentiary panel of the District 6Grievance Committee found that Priceneglected a legal matter entrusted tohim; failed to keep his client reason-ably informed about the status of hiscase and promptly comply with reason-able requests for information from hisclient; and upon termination of repre-sentation, failed to refund advancepayments of fees that had not beenearned. Price also failed to timely furnish

fully probated suspension, effectiveNovember 15, 2016. The 347th DistrictCourt of Nueces County found thatGould failed to keep a client reasonablyinformed and promptly comply withreasonable requests for informationand failed to explain a matter to theextent reasonably necessary to permitthe client to make informed decisions.

Gould violated Rules 1.03(a) and1.03(b). He was ordered to pay $1,786.22in attorneys’ fees.

On September 20, 2016, David W.Knight [#11597325], 62, of WichitaFalls, received a one-year, eight-month,and 20-day partially probated suspensioneffective September 12, 2016, with thefirst eight months and 20 days activelysuspended and the remainder probated.An evidentiary panel of the District 14Grievance Committee found that Knightfailed to safeguard funds by keepingfunds in his possession in connectionwith a representation separate from hisown funds, failed to respond to a lawfuldemand for information from a disci-plinary authority, and failed to furnishto the Office of Chief DisciplinaryCounsel a response or other informa-tion required by the Texas Rules ofDisciplinary Procedure.

Knight violated Rules 1.14(a), 8.01(b),and 8.04(a)(8). He was ordered to pay$1,566.94 in attorneys’ fees and directexpenses.

On November 8, 2016, RichardKent Livesay [#00790057], 47, ofEdinburg, accepted a one-year activesuspension, effective January 1, 2017.The 430th District Court of HidalgoCounty found that Livesay violatedRules 1.02(a)(1) [a lawyer shall abideby a client’s decisions concerning theobjectives and general methods of rep-resentation], 7.03(a) and 7.03(b) [forpermitting a non-lawyer employee toinitiate in-person contact with prospec-tive clients to seek professional employ-ment], 7.06(b) [for accepting or continuingemployment arising from conduct pro-hibited by these Rules], 8.04(a)(1) [forviolating these Rules, knowingly assist-ing or inducing another to do so, or

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Price violated Rule 8.04(a)(8). Hewas ordered to pay $2,025 in attorneys’fees and $279.50 in direct expenses.

On November 7, 2016, Andres AaronRamos [#24005926], 45, of Laredo,accepted a nine-month active suspen-sion effective December 1, 2016. Anevidentiary panel of the District 12Grievance Committee found that Ramosneglected a client’s matter, failed tokeep a client reasonably informed, failedto return unearned fees, failed to properlysafeguard client funds, failed to promptlydeliver client funds to the client, failedto comply with a prior disciplinaryjudgment, failed to comply with cessa-tion of practice rules, and practiced lawwhile his law license was suspended.

Ramos violated Rules 1.01(b)(1),1.03(a), 1.03(b), 1.04(a), 1.14(a), 1.14(b),1.15(d), 8.04(a)(7), 8.04(a)(10), and8.04(a)(11). He was ordered to pay$1,500 in restitution and $800 in attor-neys’ fees and direct expenses.

On November 9, 2016, Robert ThomasRice [#16835200], 64, of Angleton,accepted a seven-and-a-half-month par-tially probated suspension effectiveNovember 15, 2016, with the first 45days actively suspended and the remain-der probated. An evidentiary panel ofthe District 5 Grievance Committeefound that regarding one client, Ricefailed to promptly deliver funds to theclient that the client was entitled toreceive. Regarding a second client, Riceknowingly disobeyed an obligationunder the standing rules of a tribunal.Regarding a third client, Rice committeda criminal act that reflects adversely onhis honesty, trustworthiness, or fitnessas a lawyer.

Rice violated Rules 1.14(b), 3.04(d),and 8.04(a)(2). He was ordered to pay$1,000 in attorneys’ fees and directexpenses.

On September 26, 2016, Robert S.Robertson [#17071500], 59, of Brownsville,received a 910-day partially probatedsuspension, with the first 108 daysactively served and the remainder pro-bated. An evidentiary panel of the Dis-trict 12 Grievance Committee foundthat Robertson failed to communicatewith the client, failed to refundunearned fees, and failed to respond tothe grievance.

Robertson violated Rules 1.03(a),1.15(d), and 8.04(a)(8). He was orderedto pay $1,906.20 in attorneys’ fees anddirect expenses.

On November 14, 2016, CraigJames Schexnaider [#00797385], 65,of Beaumont, accepted a six-monthfully probated suspension effectiveNovember 1, 2016. An evidentiarypanel of the District 3 GrievanceCommittee found that Schexnaidercommitted a criminal act that reflectedadversely on his honesty, trustworthi-ness, or fitness as a lawyer.

Schexnaider violated Rule 8.04(a)(2).He was ordered to pay $500 in attorneys’fees and direct expenses.

On July 11, 2016, Christina J. Wanies-Guirgis [#24084772], 32, of Houston,

to the Office of Chief DisciplinaryCounsel a response or other informationas required by the Texas Rules of Disci-plinary Procedure and did not in goodfaith timely assert a privilege or otherlegal ground for his failure to do so.

Price violated Rules 1.01(b)(1),1.03(a), 1.15(d), and 8.04(a)(8). Hewas ordered to complete three hours ofCLE in ethics in addition to the minimumMCLE compliance requirements andpay $4,400 in restitution and $3,032.75in attorneys’ fees and direct expenses.

On September 28, 2016, WilliamEarl Price [#24003330], 52, of Dallas,received a six-month fully probatedsuspension effective September 15, 2016.An evidentiary panel of the District 6Grievance Committee found thatPrice failed to timely furnish a responseto the Office of Chief DisciplinaryCounsel and did not in good faithassert a privilege or other legal groundfor failure to do so.

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texasbar.com/tbj Vol. 80, No. 1 • Texas Bar Journal 59

(e) or other law, and/or failing to enterinto a written contingency fee agreementthat states the method by which thefee is to be determined (1).

1.04(f)—a division or agreement fordivision of a fee between lawyers whoare not in the same firm shall not bemade unless the division is made, bywritten agreement with the client, witha lawyer who assumes joint responsibilityfor the representation (3).

1.15(b)(1)—for withdrawing fromrepresentation of a client resulting in amaterial adverse effect on the interestsof the client (2).

1.15(d)—for failing, upon terminationof representation, to reasonably protecta client’s interests, give notice to theclient to seek other counsel, surrenderpapers and property which belongs tothe client, or refund any advance pay-ments of fees that has not been earned(3).

5.01(a)—for failing to supervise apartner lawyer and orders, encourages,or knowingly permits the conductinvolved (1).

5.03(a)—for failing to make reason-able efforts to ensure that the non-lawyer’s conduct is compatible withthe professional obligations of thelawyer (1).

5.03(b)—a lawyer shall be in viola-tion if the lawyer orders, encourages, orpermits the conduct involved of a non-lawyer to be in violation of the rules ofthe Texas Disciplinary Rules of Profes-sional Conduct (1).

8.01(b)—for knowingly failing torespond to a lawful demand for infor-mation from a disciplinary authority(1).

8.04(a)(11)—a lawyer shall notengage in the practice of law when thelawyer is on inactive status or whenthe lawyer’s right to practice has beensuspended or terminated including butnot limited to situations where alawyer’s right to practice has beenadministratively suspended for failureto timely pay required fees or assess-ments or for failure to comply withArticle XII of the State Bar Rulesrelating to mandatory continuing legaleducation (1). TBJ

received a three-year partially probatedsuspension, effective October 1, 2016,with the first two years actively sus-pended and the remainder probated.An evidentiary panel of the District 4Grievance Committee found thatWanies-Guirgis neglected a legal matterentrusted to her, failed to keep herclient reasonably informed about thestatus of the case, and failed to promptlycomply with her client’s reasonablerequests for information. Wanies-Guirgisfurther failed to file a response to thegrievance.

Wanies-Guirgis violated Rules1.01(b)(1), 1.03(a), and 8.04(a)(8). Shewas ordered to pay $3,750 in restitutionand $1,615 in attorneys’ fees and directexpenses.

PUBLIC REPRIMANDSOn November 3, 2016, Matthew

Edward Sossi [#00785016], 49, of SanAntonio, accepted a public reprimand.An evidentiary panel of the District 10Grievance Committee found that Sossi’slaw firm website contained misleadinginformation and failed to comply withthe requisite filing requirements of theState Bar of Texas Advertising ReviewCommittee.

Sossi violated Rules 7.05(a)(2) and7.07(c). He was ordered to pay $800 inattorneys’ fees and direct expenses.

PRIVATE REPRIMANDS Listed here is a breakdown of Texas

Disciplinary Rules of Professional Con-duct violations for 18 attorneys, withthe number in parentheses indicatingthe frequency of violation. Please notethat an attorney may be reprimandedfor more than one rule violation.

1.01(b)(1)—for neglecting a legalmatter entrusted to the lawyer (4).

1.03(a)—for failing to keep a clientreasonably informed about the status ofa matter and promptly comply withreasonable requests for information (8).

1.03(b)—for failing to explain a mat-ter to the extent reasonably necessary topermit the client to make informeddecisions regarding representation (2).

1.04(d)—for entering into a contingentfee agreement prohibited by paragraph

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