NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A prominent Louisiana civil rights lawyer has been suspended from practicing law in the state for six months.
State Supreme Court records show the suspension was ordered Tuesday for Ronald Haley of Baton Rouge.
Haley’s high-profile clients include the family of Ronald Greene, a Black motorist who died in the custody of Louisiana State Police in north Louisiana. Video of Greene being beaten and dragged prompted a lawsuit and a federal investigation.
The ruling said Haley admitted to violations of professional conduct rules. Among the allegations investigated were complaints that Haley “failed to communicate with a client, inappropriately attempted to settle a malpractice claim with a client, and failed to return a client’s file upon request.”
Haley’s office didn’t immediately respond to a phone message requesting comment. An attorney for Haley told The Advocate newspaper that Haley was young and inexperienced when he made the mistakes.
“He has developed into an excellent lawyer and I have every reason to believe when he comes back he’ll be a credit to the profession and do a great job for his clients,” Lewis Unglesby said.
Tuesday's ruling ordered Haley suspended for one year and one day, but deferred all but six months of the suspension, with a requirement that Haley attend the Louisiana State Bar Association's Ethics School. One justice, Scott Crichton, dissented, writing that the court was being “unduly lenient” in deferring much of the suspension.
Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
