November 2017 Discipline

Posted on by

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 2017.

Louisiana Supreme Court

  1. Erica May Lotz. The court publicly reprimanded the respondent as reciprocal discipline for a public reprimand imposed in Tennessee. The respondent comingled client funds with personal funds.
  2. John Thomas Fuller, IV. The court granted a joint petition for consent discipline and publicly reprimanded the respondent. The respondent communicated with two persons known to be represented by counsel without the consent of their lawyers.
  3. Jeanne Marie Bourque. The court ordered the reinstatement of the respondent with the condition that she comply with all terms of a recovery agreement with JLAP.
  4. Michael J. Cutshaw. The court denied the respondent’s application for reinstatement but noted that the respondent may reapply upon complying with all recommendations made by JLAP.
  5. Kenneth Michael Waguespack, Jr. The court permanently disbarred the respondent. The respondent failed to communicated with clients, misused and converted client funds, neglected legal matters, and failed to cooperate with the ODC.
  6. Raymond J. Pajares. The court transferred the respondent to disability inactive status, and denied his motion to seal.
  7. Ramsey T. Marcello. The court denied the respondent’s application readmission. The court noted that the respondent may reapply upon complying with the previous order of the court.
  8. Wayne E. Garrett. The court suspended the respondent for six months, all deferred with a probationary period of one year. The respondent commingled and converted client funds, failed to pay third-parties, and failed to properly manage his client trust account.
  9. Bradley G. Wood. The court suspended the respondent on an interim basis.
  10. Darryl L. Robertson. The court suspended the respondent for one year and one day. The respondent failed to properly represent his client, failed to diligently pursue a legal matter, and failed to communicate with a client.  Additionally, the respondent failed to answer ODC’s formal charges.
  11. Timmy James Fontenot. The court disbarred the respondent. The respondent mishandled a client’s matter, failed to properly communicate with his client, forged signatures on settlement documents, and mishandled his client trust account.

Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board

  1. William A. Roe. The board recommended the readmission of the petitioner. The petitioner is a disbarred lawyer and retired judge.  The petitioner took advanced funds from a “bond fund” and did not reimburse them, thus receiving double compensation for the same expenses.
  2. Timon V. Webre. The board recommended the imposition of a year-and-a-day suspension, fully deferred and subject to a one-year period of supervised probation with additional conditions. The respondent failed to diligently represent his client, failed to communicate with his client, and mishandled his client trust account.
  3. Steven Courtney Gill. The board recommended that the respondent’s application for reinstatement be denied.  The board noted that reinstatement should require evaluation and treatment under the auspices of JLAP.
  4. Paul E. Brown. The board recommended the imposition of a year-and-a-day suspension, fully deferred, with supervised probation of two years conditioned upon a substance-abuse evaluation. The respondent had a history of DWI and opiate use.
  5. James A. Gray, II. The board recommended the imposition of a one-year suspension, to be followed by a one-year period of probation. After several attempts by the ODC to give the respondent notice of the complaint, the respondent failed to respond to the complaint.

LADB Hearing Committees

  1. Nichole Rene Goudeau. Hearing Committee #14 recommended the suspension of the respondent for six months, with all but thirty days deferred, to be followed by a two-year period of unsupervised probation. Additionally, the committee recommended that the respondent attend LSBA Ethics School.  The respondent failed to comply with minimum MCLE requirements, failed to pay bar dues, and made an agreement for an unreasonable fee, among other misconduct.
  2. Neil Dennis Montgomery. Hearing Committee #24 recommended a one year and one day suspension of the respondent. The respondent neglected a legal matter, failed to communicate with a client, failed to return an unearned fee, and failed to cooperate with ODC’s investigation.
  3. Shelley Ann Martin. Hearing Committee #23 recommended the disbarment of the respondent. The respondent was arrested for drug use and possession, had a sexual relationship with her client, engaged in unauthorized practice during a period of ineligibility, and failed to appear in court.
Please follow and like us:
Tweet