NEW ORLEANS (Louisiana Record) — Longtime Metairie attorney Arthur L. Harris Sr. has been suspended following a June 15 Louisiana Supreme Court attorney disciplinary proceeding over alleged violations of probation and additional profession conduct rules.
The state Supreme Court revoked Harris' probation and imposed a previously deferred year-and-a-day suspension. He also was ordered to return files to former clients, according to the high court's 13-page attorney disciplinary proceeding. The state Supreme Court also ordered Harris to pay all costs and expenses in the matter.
Harris was admitted to the bar in Louisiana on May 18, 1971, according to his profile at the Louisiana State Bar Association's website.
The state Supreme Court's attorney disciplinary proceeding followed a motion and rule to revoke probation filed in April by the Office of Disciplinary Counsel, alleging Harris violated additional professional conduct rules while on probation following a deferred suspension in 2013. Harris also was alleged to have failed to comply with the conditions of his probation handed down at the same time.
In December 2013, the state Supreme Court approved a joint petition for consent discipline filed by Harris and the office of disciplinary counsel and handed down a fully deferred suspension of a year and a day. The deferred suspension followed allegations that Harris neglected legal matters and failed to communicate with his clients, return unearned fees and cooperate with ODC in its investigation.
In its motion, the office of disciplinary counsel alleged Harris failed to provide his probation monitor with written reports of his activities as required, according to the attorney disciplinary proceeding. "In addition, during [Harris]' probationary period, three disciplinary complaints were filed against him," the attorney disciplinary proceeding said.
"One client complained that [Harris] had failed to refund an unearned fee. Two other complaints involved allegations that respondent had not returned client files. [Harris] also failed to reply to the complaints; failed to appear for a sworn statement, despite being served with a subpoena, and failed to update his registration addresses."