Albert Ray Smith v. William L. Sneed

On June 1, 1988, Albert Ray Smith ("Smith") filed suit against attorney William L. Sneed ("Sneed"), alleging that Sneed had committed legal malpractice during his representation of Smith some years earlier. Sneed had represented Smith against a charge of murder for the killing of Jimmy Lamons ("Lamons"). Smith pled guilty to manslaughter on July 10, 1979, and was sentenced to spend twenty (20) years in the state penitentiary on July 13, 1979. On June 1, 1982, through new counsel, Smith obtained a copy of the autopsy of his alleged victim which revealed that the victim had died of natural causes. Due to this newly discovered evidence, Smiths conviction for manslaughter was set aside on October 26, 1982, and a new trial was ordered. Pursuant to a release signed by Smith on November 8, 1982, the charge of manslaughter was dismissed and Smith was released from prison.