Recent Decisions From the Louisiana Supreme Court

IN RE SETTLE, JR (Bossier City), 2016-B-0290 (10/28/16):
Upon finding that the respondent was no longer in compliance with the conditions of his previously deferred one year and one day suspension, the Court made the suspension executory.  However, the Court deferred all but six months of the suspension.  See In re Settle, 2012-B-0617 (4/25/12).

IN RE PLACER (Kentwood), 2016-B-1590 (11/7/16):
The Court disbarred the respondent for presenting fabricated evidence to a tribunal in her own divorce proceeding, shoplifting merchandise valued in excess of $300, multiple traffic violations including DWI, and possessing cocaine.

IN RE ALEX (Breaux Bridge), 2016-B-1020 (11/15/16):
The Court suspended the respondent for one year and one day, with all but thirty days deferred, for mishandling her trust account.

IN RE HARPER (Monroe), 2016-B-1635 (11/15/16):
The Court suspended the respondent for three years for neglecting multiple legal matters, failing to communicate with multiple clients, failing to refund unearned fees to multiple clients, practicing law while ineligible, and failing to cooperate with the ODC in five separate investigations.

IN RE KELLY (New Orleans), 2016-OB-1810 (11/15/16):
The Court granted the petitioner’s request for reinstatement.  ODC concurred with the reinstatement.  The petitioner was previously suspended by consent for one year and one day for signing her employer’s name as notary to several documents in her bar admission application without her employer’s knowledge or consent.

IN RE MICIOTTO (Shreveport), 2016-B-1757 (11/18/16):
The Court suspended the respondent for one year and one day, fully deferred, for converting client funds.

Consent Discipline:

IN RE ALARIO, II (Metairie), 2016-B-1770 (10/28/16):
Upon joint motion of the respondent and ODC, the Court made the respondent’s previously deferred one year and one day suspension executory.  See In re Alario, 2013-B-0166 (2/22/13).

IN RE SETTLE (New Orleans), 2016-B-1747 (10/28/16):
The Court suspended the respondent for one year and one day, fully deferred, for mishandling his trust account.

IN RE McCANN (Lafayette), 2016-B-1756 (10/28/16):
The Court suspended the respondent for one year and one day, fully deferred, based upon his arrest for domestic abuse battery.