Marrero attorney Kenneth Michael Waguespack Jr. has been permanently disbarred following a Nov. 13 Louisiana Supreme Court disciplinary proceeding over allegations that included forgery and converting tens of thousands of dollars.
Waguespack allegedly wrote bad checks on his client trust account, forged checks, failed to communicate or mislead with clients and failed to disburse court settlement money, according to the high court's 11-page disciplinary proceeding.
The high court found Waguespack neglected legal matters, failed to communicate with clients, repeatedly misused his trust account and converted client and third party funds, according to the disciplinary proceeding. "The deemed admitted facts and supporting documentary evidence indicate that [Waguespack] converted approximately$70,000," the proceeding said.
In addition to disbarring Waguespack, the high court also ordered him to pay restitution in addition to all costs and expenses.
Waguespack was admitted to the bar in Louisiana on Oct. 10, 2003, according to his profile at the Louisiana State Bar's website. Waguespack had no prior disciplinary record, according to the disciplinary proceeding.
The office of disciplinary counsel began its inquiry into alleged misconduct by Waguespack following separate complaints filed by a bank, medical facility and former clients, according to the disciplinary proceeding. In one complaint, a former client hired Waguespack to represent him in a case against his employer after suffering hearing loss on the job, according to the proceeding. The client alleged never to have received a settlement check of more than $12,000 and that his signature endorsing the subsequently cashed check had been forged, the disciplinary proceeding said.
In another complaint, a client hired Waguespack to represent her daughter to recover damages over injuries she suffered in an accident suffered during a visit to a national retail chain. The proceeding says the client said she never received a settlement check of $7,325, despite repeated attempts to call Waguespack and visit his office, according to the disciplinary proceeding.
In September 2016, the state bar's office of disciplinary counsel recommended that Waguespack be permanently disbarred. The recommendation came after Waguespack allegedly failed to produce documentation, failed to respond as instructed and failed to respond to the state bar's ethical complaint.