October 2015 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 October 2015.

Louisiana Supreme Court

1. Henry H. Lemoine, Jr. The court transferred the respondent to disability inactive status pursuant to Supreme Court Rule XIX § 22(B).
2. Olita Magee Domingue. The court suspended the respondent from the practice of law on an interim basis pursuant to Supreme Court Rule XIX § 19.3.
3. Glyn J. Godwin. The court granted the respondent’s request for permanent resignation in lieu of discipline. ODC was investigating allegations that the respondent was paid fixed fees and advanced costs in connection with his representation of clients but then failed to communicate with them and failed to complete the necessary work to bring their legal matters to a conclusion.
4. Malcolm Brasseaux. The court granted the respondent’s request for permanent resignation in lieu of discipline. ODC was investigating allegations that the respondent committed serious attorney misconduct, the most significant of which involved his conversion of client funds.
5. Keisha M. Jones-Joseph. The court ordered that the minimum period within which the respondent may seek readmission to the practice of law be extended for a period of five years, commencing from the date respondent would be eligible to seek readmission from the disbarment imposed in In re Jones-Joseph, 14-0061 (La. 2/26/14), 134 So. 3d 1153. The respondent accepted legal fees in two cases and then abandoned her clients without doing any work and without protecting their interests. She also made no effort to account for fees or return unearned fees. In addition, she failed to cooperate with the ODC in its investigation.
6. Elizabeth A. Alston. The court ordered that the respondent be transferred to disability inactive status pursuant to Supreme Court Rule XIX.
7. Steven Courtney Gill. The court suspended the respondent from the practice of law for a year and a day. The respondent was arrested and charged with three DWI offenses, and he was arrested in connection with an alcohol-related disturbance at the airport. He also made false statements regarding the circumstances of these arrests.

Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board

There were no Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board Decisions reported during the month of October 2015.

Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board Hearing Committees

1. Kerry Dion Brown. Hearing Committee No. 8 recommended that the respondent be permanently disbarred. The respondent failed to communicate with his clients, settled claims with their knowledge, converted client funds for his own use, failed to pay third party providers for services rendered to his clients, and failed to return unearned fees to clients.
2. Robert A. Booth, Jr. Hearing Committee No. 60 recommended that the respondent be reinstated. Respondent was previously suspended from the practice of law for failing to return unearned fees in two client matters and neglecting one of the matters.
3. Edward Bissau Mendy. The Hearing Committee recommended that the respondent be suspended from the practice of law for a year and a day. Due to the respondent’s failure to submit argument, the facts set forth in the Petition for Formal Charges were deemed admitted. The charges alleged that the respondent failed to comply with all requirements of the Supreme Court’s rules regarding annual registration, failed to hold property of the client or a third person separate from his own property, failed to cooperate with ODC in its investigation, violated or attempted to violate the Rules of Professional Conduct, failed to act with reasonable diligence, failed to promptly inform the client of a circumstance requiring the client’s informed consent, and failed to take steps reasonably practicable to protect a client’s interest upon termination of representation.
4. James Mecca. Hearing Committee No. 6 recommended that the respondent be suspended from the practice of law for one year and one day, fully deferred. The Committee cited the respondent’s acknowledgement, remorse, and excellent compliance in justifying its recommendation of a deferred suspension. The respondent pled guilty to the crime of simple possession of marijuana. For more detailed information, click here: Northshore Lawyer Suspended for Accepting Marijuana as Fee.
5. Mitchel M. Evans II. Hearing Committee No. 41 recommended that the respondent be suspended from the practice of law for six months, three months deferred. The respondent allowed his staff to sign his name to pleadings and affidavits, failed to return the unearned portion of a fee, failed to act with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing a client, and failed to keep a client reasonably informed about the status of a matter, among other violations of the Rules of Professional Conduct.
6. Louis Jerome Stanley. Hearing Committee No. 2 recommended that the respondent be publicly reprimanded. The respondent failed to keep his client reasonably informed about the receipt and distribution of proceeds from her lawsuit. Moreover, he failed to comply with reasonable requests for information, and did not promptly deliver to the client funds that she was entitled to receive.