NEW ORLEANS – Former New Orleans Attorney Edward Bissau Mendy now faces permanent disbarment following a Louisiana Bar State Bar disciplinary board recommendation in March to the state Supreme Court alleging professional conduct rules violations.
The Office of Disciplinary Counsel alleged that Mendy violated rules of professional conduct that refer to diligence; keeping a client reasonably informed; charging unreasonable fees; safekeeping of property; misconduct; and dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation.
"The hearing committee assigned to the matter concluded that (Mendy) violated the rules as charged and recommended that he be permanently disbarred," the LADB's 14-page recommendation filed March 8 stated.
Further, it recommended that Mendy make restitution for $7,000 to the complainant, and that he be assessed all costs and expenses associated with the disciplinary proceedings.
The LADB's recommendation follows a hearing committee's legal conclusions and its own recommendation filed in September that Mendy be permanently disbarred.
Mendy was admitted to the bar in Louisiana on April 23, 1993, according to his profile at the Louisiana State Bar Association's website. "He immediately upon his admission and, since that time, has engaged in collecting fees from clients, and thereafter, taking no action in their cases," the hearing committee's recommendation said.
"He has previous sanctions by the Supreme Court including disbarment in 2016. His actions have caused serious harm to persons, including complainant in this case."
Mendy's current mailing address is in Nutley, New Jersey.
Mendy's disciplinary history in Louisiana goes back more than two decades. In August 2001, the state Supreme Court suspended Mendy for six months, followed by six months of probation, based on a 1998 complaint by a former client. In a February 2012 attorney disciplinary proceeding, the state Supreme Court suspended Mendy for three years and ordered him to pay restitution. In an October 2016 attorney disciplinary proceeding, the state Supreme Court disbarred Mendy and ordered him to pay restitution over allegations that he failed to return unearned fees, neglected client matters and failed to cooperate with an investigation.