October 2020 Discipline

Posted on by

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

Louisiana Supreme Court

  1. Luke Joseph Thibodeaux, II. The court suspended the respondent on an interim basis. The court issued no written reasons for so doing.
  2. Candace Pousson Howay. The court suspended the respondent for two years. The respondent neglected a legal matter, failed to communicate with a client, failed to refund an unearned fee, practiced law while ineligible to do so, and failed to cooperate with the ODC in its investigation. In so doing, the respondent violated Rules 1.1, 1.3, 1.4(a), 1.4(b), 1.5(f)(5), 5.5(a), 8.1(b), 8.1(c), 8.4(a), and 8.4(c).
  3. Trina Trinhthi Chu. The court suspended the respondent on an interim basis for threat of harm.
  4. Richard L. Greenland. The court transferred the respondent to disability inactive status.
  5. Julia Lee Deal. The court accepted a joint ODC-respondent petition for consent discipline and suspended the respondent for one year and one day. The respondent neglected a legal matter and misrepresented the status of the matter to her client. In so doing, the respondent violated Rules 1.3, 8.4(a), and 8.4(c).
  6. Leonard K. Fisher, III. The court accepted a joint ODC-respondent petition for consent discipline and suspended the respondent for one year and one day. The client mismanaged his client trust account, violating Rules 1.15 and 8.4(a).
  7. Shane E. Romero. The court suspended the respondent for one year. The respondent pleaded guilty to one count of failing to file a complete financial disclosure report, attempted to convince a third party to sign a false affidavit that he intended to present to the ODC in an ongoing disciplinary investigation, and made false statements to the Board of Ethics. In so doing, the respondent violated Rules 3.4(b), 8.4(a), 8.4(b), and 8.4(c).
  8. Shane M. Mouton. The court accepted a joint ODC-respondent petition for consent discipline and suspended the respondent for six months. The respondent engaged in a conflict of interest by representing both a private client and the State of Louisiana in a child support collection matter. The respondent’s conduct violated Rules 1.7(a), 1.9(a), and 1.11(d).

Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board

  1. Stacy Michele Young. The board recommended that the court permanently disbar the respondent. The respondent converted funds from her former law firm, clients, and debtors on at least eighty-nine occasions. In so doing, the respondent violated Rules 8.4(a), 8.4(b), and 8.4(c).
  2. Donald Joseph Melancon. The board recommended that the court suspend the respondent for one year and one day. The respondent mismanaged his client trust account by commingling funds. In so doing, the respondent violated Rules 1.15(a) and 1.15(b).

LADB Hearing Committee

  1. Gerald Joseph Asay. Hearing Committee #50 recommended that the court reinstate the respondent. The court previously suspended the respondent for three years.
  2. Joseph Harold Turner, Jr. Hearing Committee #31 recommended that the court suspend the respondent for two years. The respondent practiced law while ineligible to do so. In so doing, the respondent violated Rules 1.1(b), 1.1(c), 1.5(f), 5.5(a), 8.1(c), 8,4(a), 8.4(c), and 8.4(d).
  3. Jarvis J. Claiborne. Hearing Committee #5 recommended that the court suspend the respondent for six months. The respondent abandoned a case and made false statements in response to disciplinary complaints.

Please follow and like us:
Tweet