May 2020 Discipline

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These lawyers were the subject of Louisiana Supreme Court disciplinary orders or Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board recommendations published during the month of May 2020.

Louisiana Supreme Court

  1. Andrew T. Adams. The court accepted a joint petition for consent discipline and disbarred the respondent. The respondent was arrested on charges of solicitation of prostitution, abuse of office, and malfeasance in office. He subsequently pleaded guilty to solicitation of prostitution. In so doing, the respondent violated Rules 8.4(a), 8.4(b), and 8.4(d).
  2. Christian Drew Chesson. The court did not impose additional or reciprocal discipline on the respondent. The respondent filed false credit counseling verifications in Chapter 13 cases in bankruptcy court. The respondent previously served a ninety-day suspension imposed by the bankruptcy court as well as a lengthy additional period of suspension in addition to paying fines and making remedial measures to ensure further misconduct.
  3. Keith Thomas Whiddon. The court accepted a petition for consent discipline and publicly reprimanded the respondent. The respondent knowingly provided a false answer to an interrogatory during discovery in his pending divorce proceeding. He self-reported his misconduct
  4. David Kimberly Nelson. The court transfer the respondent to disability inactive status. The court issued no reasons for so doing.
  5. Richard C. Ellis. The court suspended the respondent for eighteen months. The court accepted a petition for consent discipline submitted by the respondent and the Office of Disciplinary Counsel in which the parties stipulated that the respondent violated Rules 5.5 and 8.4(b)
  6. Akello Patrice Dangerfield. The court permanently disbarred the respondent. The respondent converted over $120,000 in client funds. In so doing, the respondent violated Rule 1.15(a)(d) and Rule 8.4 (a)(b)(c)(d). 
  7. Michael Langdon Cave. The court suspended the respondent for thirty months. The court accepted a petition for consent discipline submitted by the respondent and the Office of Disciplinary Counsel in which respondent acknowledged that he violated Rules 8.4(a), 8.4(b), and 8.4(d).
  8. P. David Carollo. The court suspended the respondent for one year and one day. The respondent mismanaged his client trust account. The respondent admitted his misconduct in a joint petition for discipline and stipulated that his conduct violated Rules 1.5(f)(3)(4) and 1.15(a)(b)(c).
  9. William Christopher Beary. The court suspended the respondent for one year and one day. The court accepted a petition for consent discipline submitted by the respondent and the Office of Disciplinary Counsel in which respondent acknowledged that he violated Rule 8.4(b) by being arrested for possessing drugs.
  10. Lucretia Patrice Pecantte. The court reinstated the respondent to the practice of law subject to a three-year period of probation. The respondent previously pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of failure to file a tax return. Further, she previously admitted to engaging in acts that constituted the felony crimes of tax evasion and filing false tax returns. As a result, she served a two-year suspension.
  11. Brian Lee McCullough. The court suspended the respondent for one year. The respondent was arrested in October 2016 for driving while intoxicated. He later pleaded guilty to second offense DWI. The court accepted a petition for consent discipline submitted by the respondent and the Office of Disciplinary Counsel in which respondent acknowledged that he violated Rule 8.4(b).
  12. Mark L. James, III. The court reinstated the respondent to the practice of the law. The court had previously suspended the respondent for multiple DWIs.
  13. Tara F. Gilder. The court suspended the respondent for one year and one day. The respondent neglected legal matters, failed to communicate with clients, and failed to refund unearned fees.
  14. Felix Anthony DeJean, IV. The court reinstated the respondent to the practice of law. The court previously suspended the respondent for one year and one day for a simple battery conviction arising out of an altercation with opposing counsel in a judge’s chambers .
  15. Maynard Keith Batiste, Sr. The court suspended the respondent for one year and one day. The respondent mismanaged client trust accounts and improperly entered into oral contingency fee agreements with clients.

Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board

None published this month.

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