NEW ORLEANS (Louisiana Record) — Suspended Gretna attorney Juan Carlos Labadie faces possible disbarment following a June 21 Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board (LADB) recommendation to the state Supreme Court over consolidated allegations that included attempting to unseat an incumbent judge during a Jefferson Parish election about four years ago.
"In this consolidated matter, [Labadie] has engaged in multiple instances of neglect and failure to return unearned fees/pay restitution, has made false statements regarding the integrity of a member of the judiciary, and has committed several acts of domestic violence," the LABD said in its 20-page recommendation. Any of the alleged misconduct "standing alone" would deserve "a lengthy suspension," the recommendation said, referring to the board previous recommendation that Labadie be disbarred.
"Thus, the board recommends disbarment for the misconduct," the recommendation said. The board also recommended Labadie be ordered to pay restitution to one client, accounting and/or refunds to three other clients and all costs and expenses in the proceeding.
Labadie was admitted to the Louisiana bar April 19, 1996, according to his profile at the Louisiana State Bar Association's website. He has been on interim suspension since August 2016 following a state Supreme Court order issued that month for threat of harm.
In separate recommendations in September and December, LADB hearing committees recommended Ladabie be disbarred over formal charges filed against him by the office of disciplinary counsel. The counts in those formal charges included a complaint by 24th Judicial District Judge Michael P. Mentz over Labadie's alleged actions during Mentz's re-election campaign in 2014. Labadie allegedly tried to unseat Mentz, who then was presiding over a custody battle with Labadie's ex-wife. Mentz was re-elected in 2014 and his term expires next year.
Other allegations against Labadie included a failure to file a lawsuit on behalf of a client and missing a filing deadline, which lead to the dismissal of a client's appeal.
In February, the state Supreme Court ordered consolidation of various allegations against Labadie, including his alleged attempted to unseat Mentz. The high court's Feb. 23 order remanded all allegations against Labadie to the office of disciplinary counsel for a single disciplinary recommendation.