Kerry Goff News
Louisiana attorney suspended, could be disbarred for alleged tax fraud
LAKE CHARLES -- An attorney who practiced law in Louisiana and was temporarily suspended by the Louisiana Supreme Court may face permanent disbarment.
Baton Rouge attorney allegedly mishandled client's money
BATON ROUGE -- The Office of Disciplinary Counsel (ODC) has reviewed Baton Rouge attorney Vincent J. DeSalvo after an alleged violation of Louisiana Rule of Professional Conduct, specifically safekeeping client/third party property and recommended he be publicly reprimanded.
First woman to serve on Louisiana reviewing bench: 'Be kind, courteous to adversaries'
NEW ORLEANS – As the first woman to serve on a reviewing bench in Louisiana, Jeannette Theriot Knoll, associate justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court, recalls the tug of war between career and family.
Oldest living former president of LSBA: Technology 'dramatically changed the practice of law'
NEW ORLEANS – As the oldest living former president of the Louisiana State Bar Association (LSBA), Bob Wright is pleasantly surprised at how time has changed the legal profession.
Louisiana chief judge sees technology, diversity as positive changes during career
LAKE CHARLES – Change is inevitable and 3rd Circuit Court of Appeal Chief Judge Ulysses Gene Thibodeaux has seen plenty of it in his years spent on the bench.
LASC OKs petition for 'reciprocal discipline;' attorney Ward suspended 2 years in 2 states
NEW ORLEANS – In a June 17 petition to the Louisiana Supreme Court, the Office
of Disciplinary Counsel (ODC) requested the “imposition of reciprocal
discipline” against attorney Kelly P. Ward, who is licensed to practice law in
Louisiana and Illinois, based upon discipline imposed by the Illinois Supreme
Court for repeated appearances in court while under the influence of alcohol.
Settlement reached in lawsuit between Louisiana and CNSI over Medicaid contract
BATON ROUGE – Client Network Services Inc. (CNSI) has agreed to settle its lawsuit against the state of Louisiana pertaining to a wrongful termination of a contract claim of a $200 million contract.
Attorney: Judge’s suit against law clerk ‘clear and unadulterated harassment’
MONROE – Attorneys representing 4th District Court law clerk Allyson Campbell requested that the Louisiana Attorney General's Office drop the lawsuit against her once it became clear that the plaintiff may have had motives based on her dislike for Campbell.
Vermillion Parish DA jumps on bandwagon, files coastal land loss lawsuit against oil and gas companies
LAFAYETTE – The 15th Judicial District Attorney Keith Stutes recently filed a lawsuit seeking damages from a variety of oil and gas companies, blaming them for the environmental contamination and coastal erosion created by decades of drilling and production in Vermilion Parish.
New Orleans man facing up to 20 years in jail for false Deepwater Horizon claims
NEW ORLEANS — Kevin Richard, 26, of New Orleans recently pled guilty to engaging in mail fraud, admitting to submitting a fraudulent application for disaster assistance money in the aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
Streamlining operations on the agenda for new bar association president
NEW ORLEANS – Darrel J. Papillion, the 76th president of the Louisiana
State Bar Association (LSBA), recently spoke to the Louisiana Bar
Journal about his credentials, family and his goals for the LSBA during his one-year his presidency.
State Supreme Court denies applicant to take bar exam a third time because of criminal history
NEW ORLEANS – The Louisiana Supreme Court recently denied an unnamed applicant’s request to take the July 2016 bar exam, which would have been his third time to take the exam, arguing that the he failed to demonstrate good moral character based on his criminal history to practice law.
State court denies applicant chance to take bar exam due to criminal record
NEW ORLEANS – The Louisiana Supreme Court recently denied an unnamed applicant’s request to take the July 2016 bar exam, arguing that he failed to demonstrate good moral character to practice law based on his criminal history.
Attorney general disappointed with Vermillion Parish lawsuit
BATON ROUGE – Attorney General Jeff Landry recently criticized the Vermilion Parish coastal lawsuit filed by 15th Judicial District attorney Keith Stutes, whose suit accused 49 oil and gas businesses for environmental contamination and coastal erosion created by
decades of drilling and production in Vermilion Parish.
Rule XXIII revisions aim for less-adversarial state Judiciary Commission
Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson recently said the Louisiana Supreme Court approved considerable revisions to Supreme Court Rule XXIII, pertaining to the Judiciary Commission of Louisiana, which became effective on July 1.
Immigration attorney's resignation accepted before disbarment proceedings began
The Board of Immigration Appeals, the Immigration Courts and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) accepted the resignation of attorney Julie Krull during disciplinary proceedings for disbarment.
Office of Disciplinary Counsel recommends lawyer be disbarred for professional misconduct
NEW ORLEANS – In a June 30 attorney disciplinary matter, which arose out
of formal charges, the Office of Disciplinary Counsel (ODC) requested that attorney
James Louis Fahrenholtz be disbarred on grounds of professional misconduct.
LADB committee 'troubled' by lawyer's actions, recommends disbarment for conduct
NEW ORLEANS – In an 80-page document dated June 23, the Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board (LADB) detailed the excessive violations committed by Peggy M. Hairston Robinson, who was a practicing attorney in the Baton Rouge area.
Suspension recommended for attorney who practiced law while ineligible
METAIRIE – The official Office of Disciplinary Council (ODC) recommendation of the Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board (LADB) document to suspend attorney Mark Anthony Johnson for one year and one day was filed on July 6.
LASC orders attorney Richard Brazan Jr. on probation
NEW ORLEANS – The Office of Disciplinary Counsel (ODC) has submitted a
petition to the Louisiana Supreme Court in regards to attorney Richard Brazan,
Jr., who has a general practice in the Baton Rouge area, after an investigation into
allegations he advised his client to improperly obtain documents from
an opposing party for use in preparing discovery.