Dr. Joseph Sonnier III’s sons withdrew their lawsuit against Dr. Thomas Michael Dixon and David Shepard on August 18 just a few days before the case was set for trial.
Court documents did not say if the two sides settled out-of-court or if Joseph “Dallas” Sonnier IV and James Sonnier simply decided to drop the lawsuit with no compensation.
LubbockLights.com reached out to Patrick Simek, attorney for the Sonnier family, and Kelly Utsinger, attorney for Dixon. They did not return calls and emails.
Previous coverage: Dr. Sonnier’s sons’ long-delayed civil lawsuit seeks at least $1 million more than decade after brutal murder-for-hire
Dixon is serving life without parole and so is Shepard in a 2012 murder-for-hire love triangle in Lubbock that made national news. Police found Dr. Joseph Sonnier III dead in his home from five gunshots and 11 stab wounds in the 4600 block of 21st Street.
In his criminal trial, prosecutors said Dixon gave $9,000 worth of silver bars to Shepard in exchange for the murder. Shepard told police he broke into the home through a rear window and waited for Sonnier to come home.
Dixon, a plastic surgeon from Amarillo, and Sonnier, Covenant Medical Center’s chief of pathology, shared a love interest – Richelle Shetina. In the criminal trial, prosecutors claimed Shetina broke up with Dixon in favor of dating Sonnier – giving Dixon the motive to hire Shepard.
State District Judge John Grace granted the request to “nonsuit” the case with prejudice which means the Sonnier family cannot file the same lawsuit again. Grace ruled the Sonnier family must bear the legal cost of the lawsuit, common when cases are dropped. It does not necessarily mean there was no out-of-court settlement.
If either side wishes to comment later, LubbockLights.com will provide an update.
