NEW ORLEANS (Louisiana Record) — Ineligible Covington attorney Raymond Charles Burkart III has been disbarred following a Nov. 5 Louisiana Supreme Court attorney disciplinary proceeding over multiple allegations in a consolidated matter.
Burkart also was ordered to return a client's file, return unearned fees to his clients and pay all costs and expenses in the matter, according to the high court's 13-page attorney disciplinary proceeding. The high court's decision follows a Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board recommendation in June that Burkart be disbarred.
Charges against Burkart included professional conduct rules violations, including those regarding failures to refund an unearned fee and cooperate with the office of disciplinary counsel in its investigation, according to the attorney disciplinary proceeding.
"For reasons unknown, [Burkart] has been unresponsive and less than cooperative," the disciplinary proceeding said. "The record clearly establishes [Burkart]'s failure to safeguard money entrusted to him for the benefit of his clients. Moreover, [Burkart] has violated the duty owed to the legal profession by failing to cooperate with the ODC in its investigation of misconduct. These acts are not befitting of an individual engaged in the practice of law."
Burkart was admitted to the bar in Louisiana on April 13, 2006, according to his profile at the Louisiana State Bar Association's website. He has been ineligible to practice law in Louisiana because of unpaid bar and disciplinary dues and failure to comply with continuing legal education requirements, according to his state bar profile.
In one allegation against him, an audit of his trust account in March 2014 turned up a negative balance of more than $3,700. Burkart told investigators he had assumed responsibility over the trust account following the departure of his law partner and that his professional duties on behalf of the local police union had overwhelmed him, according to the proceeding.
"[Burkart] stated that he planned to repay the shortfall in his trust account, although he has yet to confirm that he has complied with these plans," said the disciplinary proceeding.