NEW ORLEANS — Two attorneys from Rapides and St. Charles parishes were disciplined in separate Louisiana Supreme Court attorney disciplinary proceedings issued Sept. 14.
Alexandria attorney Brian Kendell Thompson received a fully deferred year-and-a-day suspension while Destrehan attorney Joseph Burchman Rochelle was publicly reprimanded, according to court documents.
Thompson received his deferred suspension, subject to successful completion of two years probation, after an investigation into allegations he mishandled his client trust account and failed to supervise a non-lawyer employee.
Before formal charges were filed, Thompson and the office of disciplinary counsel submitted a joint petition for consent discipline in which Thompson admitted to professional conduct rules violations. Thompson's probation will be governed by conditions included in the joint petition. The high court's attorney disciplinary proceeding also ordered Thompson to pay all costs and expenses.
Rochelle's public reprimand followed an office of disciplinary counsel investigation into allegations he certified a party's participation in a donation, which was not signed in his presence. Before formal charges were filed, Rochelle and the office of disciplinary counsel submitted a joint petition, which the court accepted. The high court's attorney disciplinary proceeding also ordered Rochelle to pay all costs and expenses, plus legal interest.
Thompson was admitted to the bar in Louisiana on Oct. 9, 1998. Rochelle was admitted May 14, 2009.
Thompson's law office, the Thompson Law Firm, is listed on Jackson Street in Alexandria. Rochelle's law office is listed on Avenue of Oaks in Destrehan.