NEW ORLEANS – Longtime Marrero attorney Douglas L. Uzee Jr. has been suspended and faces probation following a Nov. 5 Louisiana Supreme Court attorney disciplinary proceeding after he allegedly failed to cooperated in an investigation against him.
In its two-page disciplinary proceeding, the Supreme Court accepted a joint petition for consent discipline reached between Uzee and the office of disciplinary counsel. The court then suspended Uzee for a year and a day, with all but 60 days deferred, made retroactive to Oct. 1, the date of the interim suspension to which Uzee agreed last month.
"Following the active portion of the suspension, respondent shall be placed on supervised probation for two years, subject to the conditions set forth in the petition for consent discipline," the Supreme Court's disciplinary proceeding said.
Uzee's probation will commence after he and the offices of disciplinary counsel execute a formal probation plan, according to the disciplinary proceeding.
"Any failure of respondent to comply with the conditions of probation, or any misconduct during the probationary period, may be grounds for making the deferred portion of the suspension executory, or imposing additional discipline, as appropriate," the disciplinary proceeding said.
Uzee also was ordered to pay all costs and expenses in the matter.
Prior to reaching the joint petition for consent discipline, Uzee failed to cooperate with an office of disciplinary counsel investigation into three complaints filed against Uzee, according to the disciplinary proceeding.
Uzee was admitted to the bar in Louisiana on Oct. 9, 1981, according to his profile at the Louisiana State Bar Association's website. No prior discipline was listed on his state bar profile or in a search of Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board's online database.
Uzee was voluntarily and indefinitely suspended last month after the Supreme Court granted the joint petition then reached between Uzee and the office of disciplinary counsel. His indefinite suspension had been effective immediately and Uzee was to remain suspended pending further court order.
Neither October's order nor the court's more recent disciplinary proceeding provided details about the complaints filed against Uzee.