Second Disbarment May Be Permanent

The Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board has recommended the permanent disbarment of a lawyer who had been disbarred in 1986 and readmitted in 1999. In addition to findings of ethical violations in a number of client-related matters, the board found that the attorney had engaged in criminal conduct that adversely reflected on his fitness to practice. The findings related to the theft of shoes from Wal-mart. The attorney was arrested and pled no contest to the criminal charges. He attempted to recant his plea in the bar proceedings, contending that he had pled to conclude the matter quickly. The board did not buy the explanation. (Mike Frisch)