A Sad Story

The Louisiana Disciplinary Board recommends disbarment of an attorney charged with misconduct in 10 client matters

The Respondent located his new practice in Scott, Louisiana, a small community outside of Lafayette, Louisiana. In or around December of 2021 the Respondent closed and locked his office door one day, packed up his belongings and abandoned his law practice. Information received by the Office of Disciplinary Counsel confirms that he traveled to California where, based on information and belief, he was essentially living out of his automobile. The Office of Disciplinary Counsel has no indication that he has returned to Louisiana and both his practice and clients remain abandoned.

The hearing committee had proposed a year and a day suspension

The Committee’s recommendation seems to be motivated by sympathy based on suggestions in the record that Respondent may be suffering from mental health or substance abuse issues and the fact that he is currently only thirty-three years old. In order to establish the mitigating factor of mental disability or chemical dependence, the record must contain clear and convincing evidence of each of the following four requirements set forth in Standard 9.32(i) of the ABA Standards for Imposing Lawyer Sanction…

While this matter may present an unfortunate situation, as previously mentioned, the record contains no medical evidence or even reliable, first-hand factual information to support the presence of mental health or substance abuse issues much less any evidence demonstrating meaningful or sustained successful rehabilitation. Additionally, while Respondent’s young age is unfortunate, it is not sufficient basis for the significant downward deviation from the baseline of disbarment recommended by the Committee.

(Mike Frisch)