One-Year Suspension for Lying About “Stolen” Briefcase
The United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit upheld a one-year suspension for a New Jersey lawyer who falsely reported to the district judge that his trial bag had …
SCOTUS Reverses Louisiana Murder Conviction for Prosecutorial Misconduct
On March 7, 2016, the United States Supreme Court reversed the capital murder conviction of Michael Wearry due to the failure of prosecutors to disclose evidence that could have been …
Court Suspends Former Judge from Practice of Law
On March 14, 2016, the Louisiana Supreme Court indefinitely suspended former Orleans Parish Juvenile Court judge Yolanda J. King from the practice of law. See In re Yolanda J. King, No. 2016-B-0331 …
Permanent Disbarment for Setting Up Opposing Counsel for Arrest
On January 28, 2016, the Supreme Court of Florida permanently disbarred Tampa lawyer Stephen Christopher Diaco for “deliberately and maliciously” effecting the arrest of his opposing counsel in a “high-profile” …
“Screwing Banks Since 1992”
On January 7, 2016, the Supreme Court of Indiana imposed a thirty-day suspension on Indianapolis bankruptcy lawyer Brent Welke for false and misleading advertising on his website and in the …
Is a Prosecutor’s “Ethical” Obligation to Disclose Exculpatory Evidence Broader Than the “Constitutional” Obligation to Do So?
The Due Process Clause requires a prosecutor to disclosure exculpatory evidence only if the evidence is “material.” Evidence is “material” when failing to produce it would be “of sufficient significance …
Plaintiffs’ Lawyers: Don’t Falsely Inflate Your Clients’ Medical Bills
May a plaintiff’s lawyer who negotiates a discount with a treating physician thereafter attempt to recover the undiscounted “cost” from the defendant? No, according to a recent decision from the Louisiana …
Settlement Reached in Lawyer Overtime Pay Suit
Is a contract lawyer who performs mindless document review entitled to overtime pay under the Fair Labor Standards Act? Maybe so, but a December 2015 settlement moots adjudication of the issue. …
Disbarment for Retaliating Against Clients for Bad On-Line Reviews
On December 1, 2015, the Indiana Supreme Court disbarred a lawyer for, among other egregious conduct, retaliating against clients for unfavorable Avvo reviews. See In the Matter of David J. Steele, …
Don’t Hold a Client’s Settlement Proceeds Hostage
The Louisiana Supreme Court suspended Lake Charles lawyer Satrica Williams-Bensaadat for, among other things, refusing to endorse a settlement check in an effort to force a resolution of her fee claim. See In re Satrica …