November 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 November 2016.

Louisiana Supreme Court

1. Joseph Christopher Miciotto. The respondent was suspended from the practice of law for a period of one-year and one-day, all of which was deferred. The respondent converted $12,900 from client accounts to fund his gambling addiction in 2006.  The money was returned and the respondent has been in treatment since 2006.  In addition to the suspension, the respondent was required to continue treatment for the gambling addiction for two more years, and to work under the supervision of another lawyer for a period of one year.
2. Michael Brian Rennix. The respondent was suspended indefinitely; the court granted a Petition for Interim Suspension for Threat of Harm filed by the Office of Disciplinary Counsel.
3. Bradley J. Trevino. The respondent’s conditional admission was extended to coincide with his participation in the Judges’ and Lawyers’ Assistance Program (“JLAP”).
4. Joslyn Renee Alex. The respondent was suspended from the practice of law for one-year and one-day, with all but 30 days of the suspension deferred.  The respondent commingled and misused client trust funds by: making inappropriate payments out of the trust account, failing to disburse attorney’s fees when earned, and making multiple accounting errors.  The respondent was previously suspended in 2003 for similar misconduct involving the commingling and misuse of client trust funds.
5. N. Dawn Harper. The respondent was suspended from the practice of law for three-years and ordered to provide an accounting and to return any unearned fees to her clients.  The respondent neglected a client matter by not responding to the client and she failed to return unearned fees in two separate client matters.  Also, the respondent engaged in the unauthorized practice of law while suspended and falsely reported to a judge that her suspension had not begun.
6. Diedre Pierce Kelly. Following a suspension from the practice of law for one-year and one-day, the court granted the respondent’s application for reinstatement, effective immediately.
7. June A. Placer. The respondent was disbarred from the practice of law, retroactive to March 25, 2015. The respondent falsified evidence in her divorce proceeding, pleaded no contest to second degree burglary in 2005, was arrested for DUI in 2012, and pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine in 2013.

Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board

There were no Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board recommendations in November 2016.

Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board Hearing Committees

1. Keith Thornton. Hearing Committee #25 recommended that the respondent be readmitted to the practice of law on a conditional basis.  The respondent was suspended from the practice of law for two-years in 2004.
2. Andres Humberto Aguilar. Hearing Committee #60 recommended that the respondent be suspended from the practice of law for one-year, with all but nine months deferred.  The formal charges alleged: (1) that the respondent, while working with the Pro Bono Project, failed to file pleadings in a divorce case, and failed to respond to the client; and, (2) the respondent paid an employee of a chiropractic office to refer clients to her.
3. Michael Thomas Joseph, Jr. Hearing Committee #24 recommended that the respondent be publicly reprimanded for making overdrafts from his client trust accounts.