Recent Rules and Decisions
IN RE MICHAEL TREAMAN BELL (Baton Rouge), 2022-B-1331 (11/8/2022): The Court extended the time period in which the respondent could apply for readmission by five years. (The respondent was already disbarred.) The sanction was based on the respondent’s neglect of two legal matters, failure to communicate with two clients, including failing to inform them when he was disbarred, failure to refund unearned fees to two clients, representation of a client in court following his disbarment, and failure to cooperate with the ODC in one investigation.
IN RE AMANDA G. CLARK (Baton Rouge), 2022-B-1332 (11/8/2022): The Court suspended the respondent for one year and one day for neglecting a legal matter, failing to communicate with a client, 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 STAVROS PANAGOULOPOULOS (Gretna), 2022-B-0612 (10/21/2022): The Court suspended the respondent for eighteen months, with all but six months deferred, for neglecting client matters, mishandling his client trust account, failing to cooperate with ODC’s investigations, and engaging in criminal conduct.
IN RE PAUL A. LAPEYROUSE (Houma), 2022-B-0571 (10/21/2022): The Court suspended the respondent for one year, with six months deferred, for engaging in a conflict of interest by providing legal advice to both his client and his client’s estranged wife in connection with their divorce and by disclosing confidential information to his client’s estranged wife. Respondent then filed a defamation petition against his client and another witness based on the information they provided to the ODC regarding his conflict of interest.
IN RE JARVIS J. CLAIBORNE (Opelousas), 2022-B-0492 (10/21/2022): The Court suspended the respondent for six months, with all but thirty days deferred, for neglecting a legal matter, resulting in the dismissal of a client’s lawsuit due to abandonment, failing to communicate with the client and opposing counsel, failing to advise the client of the potential malpractice claim against him, and knowingly making a false statement of fact when responding to the client’s disciplinary complaint.
Consent Discipline:
IN RE EVE SARCO REARDON (New Orleans), 2022-B-1458 (11/16/2022): The Court suspended the respondent for one year and one day, with all but six months deferred, for improperly notarizing three affidavits and signing her name to documents finalizing a client’s settlement after the client passed away.
IN RE DAVID A. CAPASSO (New Orleans), 2022-1237 (11/22/2022): The Court suspended the respondent for one year and one day, with all but thirty days deferred, for mishandling his trust account and failing to cooperate with ODC’s investigation.
IN RE RITA KAY BACOT (Shreveport), 2022-B-1463 (11/16/2022): The Court suspended the respondent for one year and one day, fully deferred, for mismanaging her client trust account.
IN RE CHRISTOPHER JON STAHULAK (Metairie), 2022-B-1472 (1/16/2022): The Court suspended the respondent for one year and one day, fully deferred, for mishandling his client trust account.
IN RE MONIQUE NICOLE GREEN (New Orleans), 2022-B-1469 (11/16/2022): The Court suspended the respondent for six months, fully deferred, for mishandling her client trust account.
IN RE CHRISTOPHER SZETO (New Orleans), 2022-1395 (11/1/2022): The Court suspended the respondent for six months, fully deferred, for filing a frivolous pleading, failing to take remedial action despite repeated efforts by the trial court, and was ultimately found to be in constructive contempt of court.
IN RE ETTA KAY HEARN (Baton Rouge), 2022-B-1456 (11/16/2022): The Court publicly reprimanded the respondent for engaging in a conflict of interest.
IN RE FRANK A. MARULLO, JR. (New Orleans), 2022-B-1446 (11/8/2022): The Court publicly reprimanded the respondent based on his guilty plea to careless operation of a vehicle.
IN RE PAUL JOHN BARKER (Lockport), 2022-B-1438 (11/8/2022): The Court extended by one year the probation previously imposed in In re Barker, 21-0187 (La. 4/20/21), 313 So. 3d 1231. The sanction was based on the respondent’s failure to disburse settlement funds owed to a third party.
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