Texas Lawyer Loses Disbarment Appeal Over Ethical Violations

A Texas lawyer who allegedly broke five ethics rules lost his disbarment appeal, after a state court of appeals ruled Wednesday that there was sufficient evidence to support the trial court’s findings he was dishonest and misrepresentative.

Because the trial court heard evidence recounting the seriousness and degree of misconduct for all violations, the trial court was right to rescind Joe Jesse Ponce III’s law license, the Texas Court of Appeals, Fourth District, said.

Ponce didn’t reasonably inform his client of the agreement she was entering into, failed to communicate with her, and said that a lawsuit had been filed ...