July 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 July 2017.

 

Louisiana Supreme Court

  1. Marcus Paul Lacombe. The court suspended the respondent from the practice of law on an interim basis.
  2. John E. Settle.  The court suspended the respondent from the practice of law on an interim basis for threat of harm, and authorized the ODC to seek the appointment a trustee to protect the respondent’s clients and their interests.

Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board

  1. Andres H. Aguilar. The Board recommended that the Louisiana Supreme Court suspend the respondent for one year, with all but nine months deferred, and subject to a two-year probation period. In addition, the Board recommended that the respondent attend ten additional hours of CLE in law office management, and that he sign a contract with JLAP to continue counseling and therapy. The respondent neglected client matters, paid an unethical referral fee, and allowed client matters to prescribe.
  2. Robert B. Purser.  The Board recommended that the Louisiana Supreme Court permanently disbar the respondent, and that the respondent pay restitution to his clients or the Client Assistance Fund. The respondent failed to disburse his client’s subrogation checks, failed to keep his client reasonably informed, issued checks not honored by the bank due to insufficient funds, failed to act with reasonable diligence in representing his client, and practiced law while on interim suspension.
  3. Darryl L. Robertson.  The Board recommended that the Louisiana Supreme Court suspend the respondent for one year and one day. The respondent failed to provide competent and diligent representation of his clients, and failed to adequately communicate with his clients. The respondent was unable to provide competent representation due to his lack of understanding of Louisiana law and procedure as demonstrated, in part, by his failure to serve the correct party in a civil matter.
  4. Michael L. Martin.  The Board recommended that the Louisiana Supreme Court suspend the respondent for two years. The respondent commingled and converted client funds, wrote trust checks payable to cash, paid personal bills from his trust account, and failed to fully cooperate with the ODC in its investigation.
  5. Peter Brian Derouen. The Board recommended that the Louisiana Supreme Court disbar the respondent. After the respondent failed to communicate with his client, the client sought new representation. The respondent thereafer failed to provide his files to the new lawyer. In addition, the respondent converted and comingled client and third-party property, and failed to cooperate with the ODC.
  6. Peggy Hairston Robinson.  The Board recommended that the Louisiana Supreme Court permanently disbar the respondent. The respondent engaged in dishonesty and misrepresentation in dealings with a mortgage broker, threatened to present disciplinary charges solely to obtain an advantage in a civil matter, knowingly disobeyed an obligation under the rules of a tribunal, engaged in conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice, failed to abide by a client’s decision, collected an unreasonable fee, and committed other violations of the Louisiana Rules of Professional Conduct.

LADB Hearing Committees

  1. Raushanah Skahia Hunter.  Hearing Committee #14 recommended that the Louisiana Supreme Court suspend the respondent for one year and one day, with all but four months deferred, and two years of probabtion. The committee also recommended that the respondent attend Ethics School, have a mentor from the LSBA Supreme Court sponsored program, register for the LSBA Client Assistance Foundation (or the Practice Assistance Foundation), and make restitution. The respondent failed to communicate properly with her client, failed to disclose her malpractice to her client, and failed to cooperate with the ODC.
  2. Hillard Charles Fazande, III.  Hearing Committee #37 recommended that the Louisiana Supreme Court suspend the respondent for two years. The respondent mishandled funds and failed to satisfy and discharge a judgment rendered against him for retaining an unearned fee.
  3. Roger Wayne Kitchens.  Hearing Committee #10 recommended that the Louisiana Supreme Court suspend the respondent for three years, and that he comply with a JLAP Recovery Agreement. The respondent violated duties of integrity, honesty, professionalism, and decorum owed to his clients, to the public, to the legal system, and to the legal profession.
  4. Steven Courtney Gill.  Hearing Committee #24 recommended that the Louisiana Supreme Court conditionally reinstate the respondent to the practice of law, with the condition that his practice be monitored by a practice monitor for a one year period.  The committee also recommended that the respondent continue to participate in the Florida LAP program, regularly attend AA meetings, attend anger management, and attend CLE hours in professionalism to satisfy his regular MCLE requirements. The Louisana Supreme Court previously suspended the respondent for one year and one day.
  5. William A. Roe.  Hearing Committee #12 found that the petitioner, a disbarred former district judge, failed to prove by clear and convincing evidence that he should be readmitted to the practice of law. The Louisiana Supreme Court disbarred Roe for making unlawful reimbursements to himself from a court “bond fund.” The committee found, among other things, that the Roe failed to appreciate the wrongfulness of his past conduct.
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