Play the new LADB Legalese Word Search

Play LADB's new Word Search Game! Click the link below to play!

Click here to play

Recent Rules and Decisions

IN RE MICHAEL ISAIAS RODRIGUEZ, JR. (Metairie), 2022-B-1063 (9/27/2022): The Court disbarred the respondent for failing to fulfill his annual professional obligations, practicing law while ineligible to do so, delaying the resolution of his client’s legal matter by making false statements to opposing counsel and filing a fraudulent motion with the court, and failing to cooperate with the ODC in its investigation.  The factual allegations in the formal charges were deemed admitted pursuant to Louisiana Supreme Court Rule XIX, §11(E)(3).

IN RE BART JAMES BELLAIRE (Lafayette), 2022-B-1084 (9/27/2022): The Court suspended the respondent for six months, with all but ninety days deferred, for engaging in conduct constituting a conflict of interest and failing to cooperate with the ODC in its investigation.

Consent Discipline:

IN RE KAREN RUTH CARTER PETERSON (New Orleans), 2022-B-1348 (10/18/2022): The Court disbarred the respondent based on her guilty plea to wire fraud in connection with her use of state political party and campaign funds to support her gambling addiction.  The disbarment is retroactive to the date of the respondent’s interim suspension, August 18, 2022.

IN RE SCOTT W. McQUAIG (Metairie), 2022-B-1268 (10/4/2022):  The Court disbarred the respondent for settling his clients’ cases without their knowledge or consent, forging his clients’ signatures on settlement documents and checks, converting client and third-party funds, and engaging in the unauthorized practice of law after he was placed on interim suspension.  The disbarment is retroactive to the date of the respondent’s interim suspension, March 6, 2019.

IN RE ROSE M. GARCIA (ChulaVista, CA), 2022-B-1103 (9/27/2022):  The Court enjoined the respondent for a period of one year and one day from seeking admission to the Louisiana bar or seeking admission to practice in Louisiana on a temporary or limited basis.  The sanction was based on allegations that the respondent filed a pleading in a Louisiana court despite the fact that she is not, and has never been, licensed to practice law in the State of Louisiana.

IN RE MICHAEL THOMAS JOSEPH, JR. (New Orleans), 2022-B-1279 (10/4/2022):  The Court suspended the respondent for eighteen months, with six months deferred, for mishandling his client trust account, resulting in multiple instances of commingling and conversion of client funds, failing to abide by a disciplinary board order to attend the Louisiana State Bar Association’s Trust Accounting School, failing to reduce contingency fee agreements to writing, and failing to cooperate with the ODC in its investigation.

IN RE DEWANNA LATASHA STEWART (Prairieville), 2022-B-1320 (10/12/2022):  The Court suspended the respondent for one year based upon her arrest on a charge of aggravated battery involving her husband.  The suspension was made retroactive to the date of her interim suspension, April 6, 2022.

IN RE ROBERT C. JENKINS, JR. (New Orleans), 2022-B-1107 (9/27/2022): The Court suspended the respondent for two years, with all but six months deferred, for charging an unreasonable fee and failing to render a periodic accounting to his client.  The suspension was made retroactive to the effective date of the suspension imposed by the Court in In re Jenkins, 21-0293 (La. 4/7/21), 313 So. 3d 260.

Click here to see all October cases.

See All Recent Decisions

Louisiana Supreme Court Amends Rule of Professional Conduct 1.15(d)

The Louisiana Supreme Court recently amended Louisiana Rule of Professional Conduct 1.15(d) to clarify a lawyer’s duty with respect to the interests of third parties in funds or other property in the lawyer’s possession. This rule change has an effective date of December 1, 2022.