Karen Kidd News
Louisiana needs tort reform as new report shows billions in economic and wage losses
Last year's tort reforms notwithstanding, Louisiana is still sustaining billions in lost economic activity and wages, not to mention thousands of jobs, according to a recently released Louisiana Lawsuit Abuse Watch (LLAW) report.
Rep. McCormick on Covid liability proposal: It's about liberty and individual choice on vaccination
A business should not have to essentially compel its customers to get the COVID-19 vaccine, McCormick said.
Federal Judge grants Louisiana AG intervention in 9-year-old's federal case over BB gun suspension, boy's attorney says
Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry will be part of the federal case over the suspension of a fourth-grader suspended after he moved a BB gun that his brother had tripped over during a virtual class, the boy's attorney in the case said.
Baton Rouge attorney who allegedly had inappropriate interactions with a college student, two others on probation
NEW ORLEANS — Baton Rouge attorney Tedrick Keefe Knightshead, accused of "inappropriate interactions with a college student," along with West Monroe attorney Raymond Fritz Niswanger and Baton Rouge William F.
Environmental group says Army Corps could help with Maurepas Swamp project
LaPLACE – An announced vote approving a $130 million project to restore Maurepas Swamp near New Orleans is a great shot in the arm but more coastal restoration work must be done, a spokesman for a Washington-based environmental group said.
New Orleans attorney reprimanded for threatening to 'punch the s*** out of' an assistant DA he's now suing
NEW ORLEANS (Louisiana Record) — Long time New Orleans attorney Ike Spears has been publicly reprimanded following a March 9 Louisiana Supreme Court attorney disciplinary proceeding for threatening to assault an assistant DA during a 2018 criminal trial.
Reinstatement recommended for suspended Baton Rouge attorney convicted in 2015 'chest bumping' of DA
NEW ORLEANS — Suspended longtime Baton Rouge attorney Felix Anthony DeJean IV, convicted of allegedly "chest bumping" a district attorney while leaving a judge's chambers in 2015, could be reinstated following a recent recommendation.
Longtime Lake Charles attorney, failed 2014 judicial candidate indicted for domestic abuse, now on disability inactive status
NEW ORLEANS — Longtime Lake Charles attorney Michael Pierre Ned, former judicial candidate indicted on domestic abuse and other charges almost six years ago, now is on disability inactive status following a March 9 Louisiana Supreme Court order.
Former Harahan Magistrate suspended for allegedly practicing law while ineligible
NEW ORLEANS (Louisiana Record) — Longtime Gretna attorney and former Harahan Magistrate Pro Tempore Demetrie Elijah Ford has been voluntarily suspended following a Feb. 10 Louisiana Supreme Court attorney disciplinary proceeding for allegedly practicing law while ineligible.
Deferred suspension recommended for Washington attorney over 'negligent' failure to file withdrawal, change of address
NEW ORLEANS – Ineligible Tacoma, Wash., attorney Myles Julian Johnson faces possible fully deferred suspension following a recommendation issued Feb. 21 by a Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board (LADB) hearing committee.
New Orleans attorney suspended after alleged failure to comply with probation conditions
NEW ORLEANS – New Orleans attorney Jerry L. Settle has been suspended following a Feb. 10 Louisiana Supreme Court attorney disciplinary proceeding over allegations that he failed to comply with probation conditions in a 2016 discipline.
LA Supreme Court – over chief justice's dissent – drops all charges against former Orleans Asst DA in alleged jailhouse informant deal
NEW ORLEANS – New Orleans attorney and former Orleans Parish Assistant District Attorney Eusi Hekima Phillips will face no charges in a testimony deal he allegedly cut with a jailhouse informant in a murder case more than a decade ago.
Mostly deferred suspension, probation recommended for New Orleans attorney alleged to have practiced while ineligible in 2014
NEW ORLEANS – New Orleans attorney Kemic Alan Smothers faces a possible mostly deferred suspension following a Feb. 10 Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board (LADB) recommendation to the state Supreme Court for allegedly providing legal services while ineligible in 2014.
Permanent disbarment recommended for Covington attorney following 2017 harassment guilty plea
NEW ORLEANS – Disbarred Covington attorney Raymond Charles Burkart III faces possible permanent disbarment following a Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board (LADB) Feb. 10 recommendation to the state Supreme Court.
Permanent disbarment recommended for New Orleans attorney over alleged conversion of Deepwater Horizon settlement funds
NEW ORLEANS – Ineligible New Orleans attorney Akello Patrice Dangerfield faces possible permanent disbarment following a Jan. 17 Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board (LADB) recommendation for allegedly converting about $127,000 in Deepwater Horizon settlement funds.
Permanent disbarment recommended for suspended Metairie attorney after he allegedly practiced law while ineligible
NEW ORLEANS – Suspended Metairie attorney Arthur L. Harris Sr. faces possible permanent disbarment following a Feb. 6 recommendation by a Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board (LADB) hearing committee after he allegedly practiced law while ineligible.
LADB publicly, conditionally reprimands Columbia attorney over allegations in divorce matter, but does not suspend her
NEW ORLEANS – Columbia attorney Dina Fae Domangue has been publicly reprimanded following a Feb. 6 Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board (LADB) recommendation over alleged misconduct in a divorce proceeding.
Hammond attorney suspended indefinitely after conviction for stealing at least $186,000 from client
NEW ORLEANS — Longtime Hammond attorney James A. Dukes, who has been convicted of stealing at least $186,000 from a client, has been indefinitely suspended following a Jan. 8 Louisiana Supreme Court order.
Supreme Court allows Bossier City attorney to permanently resign ahead of disciplinary hearing
NEW ORLEANS — Suspended Bossier City attorney John E. Settle Jr. has been allowed to permanently resign following a Jan. 14 Louisiana Supreme Court order.
New Orleans attorney permanently disbarred after federal fraud conviction
NEW ORLEANS — Suspended New Orleans attorney Louella P. Givens-Harding has been permanently disbarred following a Jan. 14 Louisiana Supreme Court attorney disciplinary proceeding over her 2017 federal health care fraud conviction.