December 2017 Discipline

These lawyers were the subject of Louisiana Supreme Court disciplinary orders or Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board recommendations that were made public during the month of December 2017.

Louisiana Supreme Court

  1. Dounnisei Kuo Gbalazeh. The court suspended the respondent for a year and one day. The respondent enrolled as counsel on behalf of clients when ineligible to practice. The respondent also failed to cooperate with ODC’s investigation.
  2. Phil C. Nugent. The court suspended the respondent for eighteen-months. He filed claims without basis against a judge and his former wife.
  3. Elise Marybeth LaMartina. The court dismissed formal charges filed against the respondent. In so doing, the court found a lack of clear and convincing evidence that the respondent knowingly engaged in the unauthorized practice of law. The court also noted, without elaboration, that the definition of “practice of law” found in Louisiana Revised Statutes § 37:212(C) was ambiguous.
  4. Andres Humberto Aguilar. The court suspended the respondent for a year and one day, with all but nine months deferred. The respondent neglected legal matters, failed to communicate with clients, and failed to cooperate with ODC’s investigation.
  5. Peggy M. Hairston Robinson. The court permanently disbarred the respondent. She converted client funds and practiced law while on interim suspension.
  6. William A. Roe. The court readmitted the respondent to the practice of law. In so doing, the court found that the respondent, a former Plaquemines Parish judge, proved his entitlement to be readmitted after being disbarred. His disbarment resulted from a criminal convicton for “double-dipping” on expense reimbursements relating to the 2005, 2006, and 2007 Summer School for Judges in San Destin, Florida.
  7. Roger Wayne Kitchens. The court suspended the respondent for three years. The respondent neglected client matters, failed to communicate with clients, failed to refund unearned fees, practiced law while unauthorized to do so, and drove while under the influence of alcohol.
  8. Erich Webb Bailey. The court suspended the respondent on an interim basis, reciprocal to discipline imposed by the Supreme Court of Tennessee.

Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board

  1. Debra Lomax Cassibry. The board recommended that the respondent be disbarred. The respondent engaged in multiple criminal acts, refused to cooperate with ODC’s investigation, and was previously suspended for a DWI offense.
  2. Lewis Burdette Blanche. The board recommended that respondent’s petition for reinstatement be granted. He is currently serving a three-year suspension.

LADB Hearing Committees

  1. John N. Bokenfohr. Hearing Committee #60 recommended that the formal charges filed against the respondent be dismissed. The committee found that ODC failed to prove that the respondent violated the Rules.
  2. Tracey Michel Favorite. Hearing Committee #37 recommended that the respondent be disbarred. He issued multiple worthless checks over a three-year period.
  3. Raymond Charles Burkart, III. Hearing Committee #15 recommended that the respondent be disbarred. He failed to act with reasonable diligence and promptness in dealing with multiple clients.  He also failed to cooperate with ODC’s investigation.
  4. James E. Moorman, III. Hearing Committee #34 recommended that the respondent be readmitted to the practice of law, with conditions (including a JLAP contract, mental health counseling, and, a practice monitor).
  5. George Allen R. Walsh. Hearing Committee #26 recommended that the respondent be suspended for six months, with all but thirty days deferred. He failed to pay bar dues, failed to report his trust account, and knowingly practiced while unauthorized to do so.
  6. Michael K. Riley, Sr.  Hearing Committee #08 recommended that the respondent be readmitted to the practice of law with conditions (including association with an established group of practitioners for two years, attending legal ethics school, and, attending a law office management seminar).
  7. Bradley O. Hicks. Hearing Committee #06 recommended that the respondent be suspended fro two years. He failed to communicate with clients and neglected client matters.
  8. Juan Carlos Labadie. Hearing Committee #24 recommended that the respondent be suspended for one year and one day.  He failed to appear in court and failed to take a court-ordered drug test.  The committee found, however, that he did not knowingly deceive his clients to receive a benefit.
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