May 2016 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 May 2016.

Louisiana Supreme Court

1. Julie Ann Fusilier. In a per curiam opinion, the court ordered that the respondent be suspended from the practice of law for eighteen months.  The respondent self-reported to the ODC her arrest for felony theft and burglary of an inhabited dwelling.
2. Stephen J. Holliday. The court accepted a joint petition for consent discipline and ordered that the respondent be suspended from the practice of law for one year.  Respondent was convicted of domestic abuse battery.
3. Richard Z. Johnson Jr. The court accepted a joint petition for consent discipline and ordered that the respondent be suspended from the practice of law for a period of three years.  The respondent pleaded guilty to making and subscribing a false income tax return.
4. Jalonda Marie Morris. The court accepted a joint petition for consent discipline and ordered that the respondent be suspended from the practice of law for one-year and one-day, with six months deferred.  The respondent acknowledged that she neglected a legal matter and converted client funds to her own use.
5. Edward Duane Schertler Jr.. The court accepted a joint petition for consent discipline and ordered that the respondent be suspended from the practice of law on an interim basis.
6. John J. Finckbeiner Jr.. The court accepted a joint petition for consent discipline and ordered that the respondent be suspended from the practice of law for one-year and one-day, all deferred.  The ODC had commenced an investigation into the respondent’s arrest for driving while intoxicated.
7. Chase McNeil McCalip. The court accepted a joint petition for consent discipline and ordered that the respondent be publicly reprimanded.  The ODC had commenced an investigation into allegations that the respondent notarized a document outside the presence of the signatory and witnesses.
8. Randy J. Ungar. The court ordered the respondent’s immediate reinstatement to the practice of law following a three-year suspension.
9. Darryl J. Becnel. The court granted the respondent’s petition for transfer to disability inactive status.
10. Patrick Henry. The court ordered that the respondent be suspended from the practice of law for nine months, all but sixty days deferred.  The respondent agreed to handle a matter for a friend on a pro-bono basis and then failed to inform his employer about the agreement so that he could submit billable hours for the work.
11. Harry J. Morel Jr. The court granted the respondent’s petition for permanent resignation in lieu of discipline.  Morel was charged and later pleaded guilty to one count of obstruction of justice.
12. Quentin Irwin White. The court granted an ODC petition seeking the imposition of reciprocal discipline.  The respondent is licensed in Louisiana and Tennessee.  The Supreme Court of Tennessee issued an order to immediately suspend his license based on the misappropriation of funds.
13. Mark Lane James II. The court accepted a joint petition for consent discipline and ordered that the respondent be suspended from the practice of law for one-year and one-day.  The respondent was arrested for driving while intoxicated and later pleaded guilty to a second offense DWI.
14. Kerry Dion Brown. The court permanently disbarred the respondent after the ODC brought charges on twelve different counts arising from his representation of various clients from 2008-2012.  The ODC determined that the respondent violated the duties to safeguard client funds, provide adequate legal services, compensate third-party medical providers, and compensate mediators. The respondent also engaged in illegal conduct, and failed to cooperate with the ODC investigation.

Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board

1. William Francis Henderson. The Board recommended that the petition and application of readmission be denied.  The Board found that the respondent had not complied with the terms and conditions of his disbarment order.
2. Joslyn Renee Alex. The Board recommended that the respondent be suspended from the practice of law for one-year and one-day, with all but 30-days deferred. The respondent failed to adequately maintain her IOLTA trust account and disbursed funds from the trust account to the appropriate parties.
3. Arthur Gilmore Jr. The Board recommended that the respondent be disbarred.  The respondent was convicted of violating the Racketeering and Corrupt Influences Act (RICO) 18 U.S.C. § 1962(c).

Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board Hearing Committees

1. Johnny S. Anzalone. Hearing Committee No. 6 recommended that the respondent be suspended for one-year and one-day.  The respondent was convicted of operating a vehicle while intoxicated.
2. Thomas G. Wilkinson. Hearing Committee No. 12 recommended that the respondent be reinstated to the practice of law after a three-year suspension for, among other things, a federal criminal conviction for conspiracy to commit misprision of a felony.
3. Walter I. Willard. Hearing Committee No. 55 recommended the that the respondent be suspended for a minimum of one-year and one-day.  The respondent ignored the terms of his probation, committed various acts of misconduct in a client matter, and failed to cooperate with the ODC in its investigation.