Karen Kidd News
Laplace attorney suspended for mishandling a trust account
NEW ORLEANS — Laplace attorney Daniel Elmore Becnel III has been suspended following a split Jan. 30 Louisiana Supreme Court attorney disciplinary proceeding over allegations that he mishandled a client's trust account
LADB hearing committee recommends suspension for Springhill attorney following undisclosed 2012 DUI arrest
NEW ORLEANS — Springhill attorney Ronald David Harvey faces possible suspension after a recommendation was issued Jan. 29 by a Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board (LADB) hearing committee following allegations in a child custody matter and an undisclosed 2012 DUI arrest
Baton Rouge attorney convicted of 'chest bumping,' Abita Springs attorney arrested for DUI receive suspensions
NEW ORLEANS (Louisiana Record) – Baton Rouge attorney Felix Anthony DeJean IV was suspended and Abita Springs attorney Ella Cortland Goodyear was voluntarily suspended in separate Louisiana Supreme Court attorney disciplinary proceedings.
Covington attorney suspended over allegedly executing false quitclaim deeds
NEW ORLEANS – Covington attorney William M. Magee was suspended following a split Jan. 30 Louisiana Supreme Court attorney disciplinary proceeding over allegations he created, improperly executed and notarized false quitclaim deeds.
Deferred suspension, probation recommended for New Orleans attorney alleged to have practiced law while ineligible
NEW ORLEANS – New Orleans attorney Kemic Alan Smothers faces a fully-deferred suspension and probation following a recommendation issued Jan. 31 by a Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board (LADB) hearing committee for allegedly providing legal services in 2014 while he was ineligible.
New Iberia attorney suspended, placed on probation over trust account dispute
NEW ORLEANS – New Iberia attorney Alicia Johnson Butler received a partially deferred suspension following a split Jan. 30 Louisiana Supreme Court attorney disciplinary proceeding over a dispute that arose in her trust account.
Disciplinary board panel cites long list of charges in recommending permanent disbarment for Shreveport attorney
NEW ORLEANS – Shreveport attorney Michael Brian Rennix is facing permanent disbarment following a recent recommendation by a Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board (LADB) hearing committee.
Disciplinary board hearing panel recommends New Orleans attorney be disbarred following bank theft plea
NEW ORLEANS – Suspended New Orleans attorney Hilliard Charles Fazande III faces disbarment after a recent recommendation by a Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board (LADB) hearing committee following his sentencing last fall for bank theft.
State appeals court affirms dismissal of Plaquemines Parish lawsuit
NEW ORLEANS — Plaquemines Parish lawsuit against its former public works director on allegations he approved invoices in favor of companies owned by his father and uncle remains dismissed following a recent appeals court ruling.
Baton Rouge attorney receives official suspension following negligent injuring plea
NEW ORLEANS (Louisiana Record) – Baton Rouge attorney Gerald Joseph Asay received an official suspension and longtime Houston attorney Bernadette Lockett Thomas is on voluntary inactive status following separate Louisiana Supreme Court filings.
Disciplinary board recommends Shreveport attorney be permanently disbarred following 2017 identity theft arrest
NEW ORLEANS (Louisiana Record) – Ineligible Shreveport attorney Christopher Lee Sices faces possible permanent disbarment following a recent Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board (LADB) hearing committee's recommendation over allegations that included identity theft and forgery.
Disciplinary panel recommends attorney practicing without license not be admitted to bar for several years
NEW ORLEANS (Louisiana Record) – Sanford A. Kutner, an attorney licensed in Oklahoma and New York who has maintained a Louisiana address, may not be admitted to the practice of law in Louisiana for several years following a Jan. 16 Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board (LADB) hearing committee's recommendation.
Lawsuit over elderly couple's deaths in high-speed chase returns to Caddo County
SHREVEPORT — The lawsuit filed by the surviving children of an elderly couple who died following a high-speed chase in Shreveport is on its way back to a Caddo Parish court following a recent state appeals court ruling.
Appeals court revives Toledo Bend Dam inverse condemnation suit
BATON ROUGE — The inverse condemnation claims of Louisiana property owners along the Sabine River downstream of the Toledo Bend Dam has been revived and will remain in state court following recent appeals.
New Orleans attorney imprisoned over alleged health care fraud faces possible disbarment
NEW ORLEANS (Louisiana Record) — Suspended New Orleans attorney Louella P. Givens-Harding faces possible permanent disbarment following a recommendation issued Jan. 14 by a Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board (LADB) hearing committee over her 2017 federal health care fraud conviction.
Denham Springs attorney placed on supervised probation for alleged mishandled trust account
NEW ORLEANS (Louisiana Record) — Longtime Denham Springs attorney Michael A. Betts has received a deferred suspension and has been placed on supervised probation following a Jan. 14 Louisiana Supreme Court attorney disciplinary proceeding over allegations he mishandled his client trust account.
New Orleans attorney voluntarily disbarred, Shreveport lawyer indefinitely suspended
NEW ORLEANS (Louisiana Record) — New Orleans attorney Brian P. Quirk has been voluntarily disbarred and Shreveport attorney Kirby Dale Kelly has been indefinitely suspended following separate Jan. 14 Louisiana Supreme Court decisions.
Louisiana Supreme Court remands proceedings against Gretna attorney to discipline board
NEW ORLEANS (Louisiana Record) — Proceedings against Gretna attorney Kevin Michael Steel are on their way back to the Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board (LADB) following a state Supreme Court order issued earlier this week.
New Orleans attorney's disbarment period extended over additional charges
NEW ORLEANS (Louisiana Record) – Disbarred New Orleans attorney Greta L. Wilson will have to wait longer to apply for readmission following a Jan. 14 Louisiana Supreme Court attorney disciplinary proceeding regarding misconduct related to a client matter.
Supreme Court rejects suspended Hammond attorney's latest bid for reinstatement
NEW ORLEANS (Louisiana Record) – A request by Hammond attorney Leonard E. Yokum Jr., who was admitted to the Louisiana Bar more than 50 years ago and who was suspended for almost a decade, to be readmitted has been denied, a notice posted on the Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board (LADB) website said.