April 2021 Discipline

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These lawyers were the subject of Louisiana Supreme Court disciplinary orders or Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board recommendations published during the month of April 2021.

Louisiana Supreme Court

  1. Albert A. Thibodeaux. The court accepted a joint petition for consent discipline in which respondent admitted that his conduct violated rules 1.1(a) and 8.4(d). The court suspended the respondent for six months. The respondent signed his client’s name to a pleading, notarized the signature, and then filed the pleading into the court record.
  2. Phillip J. LaFleur. The court accepted a joint petition for consent discipline and suspended the respondent for one year and one day. The respondent mismanaged his client trust account.
  3. Robert C. Jenkins, Jr. The court accepted a joint petition for consent discipline in which respondent admitted that his conduct violated rules 1.3, 1.4, 1.5(b), 1.5(f)(5), 1.16(d), 3.2, and 8.4(a). The respondent neglected legal matters, failed to communicate with clients, failed to refund unearned fees, and failed to properly terminate the representation of clients. The court suspended the respondent for one year and one day.
  4. Jennifer M. Bonneau. The court transferred the respondent to disability inactive status.
  5. Gerald Joseph Asay. The court reinstated the respondent to the practice of law.
  6. Joseph Harold Turner, Jr. The court remanded the matter for further review by the disciplinary board. The court issued no reasons for so doing.
  7. Lillian Matena Brown-Singh. The court reinstated the respondent to the practice of law.
  8. Walter P. Reed. The court granted the respondent’s petition for permanent resignation in lieu of discipline. A federal jury convicted the respondent on multiple counts of conspiracy, mail and wire fraud, money laundering, and filing false income tax returns.
  9. Sanford A. Kutner. The court accepted a joint petition for consent discipline in which respondent acknowledged that he neglected his client’s legal matter, failed to communicate with his client, failed to promptly refund unearned fees, and engaged in the unauthorized practice of law. Additionally, the court ordered that the respondent be enjoined for a period of eighteen months from seeking admission to the Louisiana bar or seeking admission to practice in Louisiana on a temporary or limited basis.
  10. William Chase Gore. The court accepted a joint petition for consent discipline and suspended the respondent for eighteen months. The respondent neglected a client’s legal matter, failed to communicate with his client, misled opposing counsel regarding the status of the matter, and concealed his misconduct from his client and his supervising attorney. 
  11. Paul J. Barker. The court accepted a joint petition for consent discipline and suspended the respondent for one year and one day. The respondent neglected legal matters, failed to communicate with clients, failed to refund unearned fees, and failed to reconcile his client trust account at least quarterly.
  12. Michael Peter Arata. The court disbarred the respondent. A federal jury convicted the respondent for conspiracy, mail and wire fraud, and lying to the FBI. In so doing, the respondent violated Rules 8.4(a), 8.4(b), and 8.4(c).
  13. Joseph B. Morton, III. The court remanded the matter for further review by the disciplinary board.
  14. James E. Moore, Jr. The court suspended the respondent on an interim basis. The respondent violated the terms of his probation.

Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board

  1. Michael Langdon Cave. The board recommended that the court reinstate the respondent to the practice of law.
  2. Jeananne Roy Self. The board recommended that the court suspend the respondent for thirty days. The respondent pleaded guilty to one count of simple possession of marijuana. In so doing, the respondent violated rules 5.5 and 8.4(b).

LADB Hearing Committees

  1. Stavros Panagoulopoulos. Hearing Committee #55 recommended that the court suspend the respondent for one year and one day, all deferred. The respondent neglected multiple client matters and was arrested for a DUI.
  2. Travis Mitchell Hill. Hearing Committee #15 recommended that the court reprimand the respondent. The respondent practiced law in Louisiana while unauthorized to do so. In so doing, the respondent violated rules 5.5(a) and 8.4(d).
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