Reinstatement Granted

The Louisiana Supreme Court has reinstated a suspended attorney.

The record

In May 2001, petitioner was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated (“DWI”), speeding, and improper lane usage. Ultimately, the DWI charge was dismissed, and petitioner pleaded guilty to the traffic charges.

In September 2001, petitioner vandalized a truck belonging to his ex-wife’s boyfriend while it was parked at his ex-wife’s home. He was arrested and charged with simple criminal damage to property and violation of a restraining order. He was also cited for failure to yield to an emergency vehicle for refusing to stop his car when the police ordered him to do so.

In December 2002, petitioner was arrested and charged with DWI second offense, hit and run, disobeying a red light, reckless driving, and failing to maintain proof of insurance. In February 2005, petitioner pleaded guilty to failing to report an accident, disobeying a red light, and reckless driving. In June 2005, the record of petitioner’s arrest was expunged.

In June 2005, petitioner gave a sworn statement to the Office of Disciplinary Counsel (“ODC”) regarding the three matters set forth above. In response to the ODC’s questions, petitioner asserted his Fifth Amendment privilege against self incrimination. The ODC insisted that he answer on the ground that all criminal charges against him had either been declined or resolved via plea agreement. Nevertheless, petitioner continued to refuse to answer, thereby failing to cooperate with the ODC’s investigation.

The court imposed a three-year suspension in 2009. 

Then

In June 2015, petitioner pleaded no contest to domestic abuse battery. In May 2016, we accepted a joint petition for consent discipline filed by petitioner and the ODC and suspended petitioner from the practice of law for one year

The court accepted a hearing committee’s favorable recommendation for conditional reinstatement

After considering the record in its entirety, we find petitioner has met his burden of proving that he is entitled to be reinstated to the practice of law on a conditional basis. Accordingly, we will order that petitioner be reinstated to the practice of law, subject to a one-year period of probation governed by all of the conditions recommended by the hearing committee.

(Mike Frisch)