February 2022 Discipline

These lawyers were the subject of Louisiana Supreme Court disciplinary orders or Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board recommendations published during the month of February 2022.

Louisiana Supreme Court

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  1. Cynthia Ann Langston Sternberg. The court granted a petition for transfer to disability inactive status.
  2. Travis Mitchell Hill. The court enjoined the respondent for one year and one day from seeking admission to the Louisiana bar or seeking admission to practice in Louisiana on a temporary or limited basis. The respondent filed a motion in a Louisiana court case without seeking or obtaining pro hac vice admission. In doing so, the respondent violated Rules 5.5(a) and 8.4(d) of the Rules of Professional Conduct.
  3. Kelly Rae Englert. The court granted a joint petition for consent discipline and suspended the respondent from the practice of law for one year and one day. The respondent was arrested for driving while intoxicated.
  4. Patrick Hale Dejean. The court granted the respondent’s petition for permanent resignation from the practice of law. A federal jury convicted the respondent of multiple counts of mail fraud and making false statements to a bank.
  5. Corrie Ruth Gallien. The court granted a petition for transfer to disability inactive status.
  6. Frances M. Robinson Smith. The court granted a joint petition for consent discipline and suspended the respondent from the practice of law for one year and one day, fully deferred. The respondent mishandled her client trust account and failed to cooperate with the ODC in its investigation.

Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board

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  1. Steven Courtney Gill. The board recommended that the court deny Mr. Gill’s petition and application for reinstatement. The petitioner failed to: publish a notice of his petition and application in a general circulation newspaper; comply with the treatment recommendations of JLAP; recognize the wrongfulness and seriousness of his conduct for which he was suspended; have the requisite honesty and integrity to practice law; and satisfy the MCLE requirements for the year of reinstatement. In doing so, the petitioner failed to satisfy the requisites of Supreme Court Rule XIX, Section 24(D), 24(E)(3), (4), (6), and (7) for reinstatement.
  2. D. Douglas Howard, Jr. The board dismissed all formal charges filed against the respondent.

LADB Hearing Committees

  1. Albert A. Bensabat III. Hearing Committee #1 recommended that the court suspend the respondent from the practice of law for one year and one day. The respondent mismanaged his client trust account and was convicted on driving while intoxicated. In doing so, the respondent violated Rules 1.15(a), 1.15(f), 8.4(a), and 8.4(b) of the Rules of Professional Conduct.
  2. Jason C. Bruzik. Hearing Committed #14 recommended that the court suspend the respondent for one year and one day. The respondent created and continuously used an hourly fee contract, misrepresented the nature of such contracts to his clients, collected substantial advance fees, failed to deposit these fees into his client trust account, converted the fees prior to earning them, failed to keep complete records of the funds remitted to him, and failed to return unearned fees to clients. In doing so, the respondent violated Rules 1.5(f)(3), 1.15(a), 8.4(a), and 8.4(c) of the Rules of Professional Conduct.
  3. Lenise Rochelle Williams. Hearing Committee #18 recommended that the court suspend the respondent from the practice of law for an additional three years. Respondent failed to advise her clients of her suspension from the practice of law, continued to practice law, inappropriately signed documents on behalf of her clients, and failed to satisfy her MCLE requirements. In doing so, the respondent violated Rules 1.16(a)(1), 5.5(a), and 8.4(a)(c) of the Rules of Professional Conduct.

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