“Intentionally Reckless Expense Reporting” Draws Proposed Disbarment

The Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board has recommended permanent disbarment of a partner in an insurance defense firm who

repeatedly engaged in intentionally reckless expense reporting which resulted in hundreds of misrepresented travel expenses and tens of thousands of dollars in erroneous reimbursements for his sole benefit. Despite an earlier warning by the firm that such conduct was unacceptable, [he] perpetuated the pattern and caused substantial and potentially irreparable injury to Farm Bureau and [his law firm].

The Board rejected the attorney’s claim that the evidence against him was hearsay and based on second-hand knowledge. The Board noted that strict rules of evidence do not apply and that the evidence was persuasive and reliable hearsay.

He had previously been suspended for a year and a day for failing to file federal income tax returns. (Mike Frisch)