Recent Rules and Decisions

IN RE GRETA L. WILSON (New Orleans), 2021-B-01579 (1/26/22): The Court permanently disbarred the respondent for neglecting a legal matter, failing to communicate with a client, failing to remit funds to a client, and failing to cooperate with the ODC in its investigation. The factual allegations in the formal charges were deemed admitted pursuant to Louisiana Supreme Court Rule XIX, §11(E)(3).

IN RE TRAVIS MITCHELL HILL (Moulton, TX), 2021-B-01616 (2/8/22): The Court enjoined the respondent (a non-Louisiana attorney) from seeking admission to the practice of law in Louisiana for a period of one year and one day for filing a motion in a Louisiana court case without seeking or obtaining pro hac vice admission. The factual allegations in the formal charges were deemed admitted pursuant to Louisiana Supreme Court Rule XIX, §11(E)(3).

IN RE MYLES JULIAN JOHNSON (Tacoma, WA), 2021-B-01558 (1/26/22): The Court suspended the respondent for six months for neglecting a legal matter, failing to communicate with a client, failing to properly withdraw from a representation, failing to fulfill his professional obligations, and failing to cooperate with the ODC in its investigation.

Consent Discipline:

IN RE KELLY RAE ENGLERT (Baton Rouge), 2021-B-01819 (2/8/22): The Court suspended the respondent for one year and one day, fully deferred, based upon her arrest for driving while intoxicated.

IN RE FRANCES M. ROBINSON SMITH (Baton Rouge), 2021-B-01534 (2/15/22): The Court suspended the respondent for one year and one day, fully deferred, for mishandling her client trust account and failing to cooperate with ODC in its investigation.

IN RE SIMEON C. SMITH IV (Leesville), 2021-B-01727 (1/26/22): The Court suspended the respondent for six months, fully deferred, for failing to promptly remit funds to third-party medical providers and mishandling his trust account.

Reciprocal Discipline:

IN RE LYNN PLAISANCE JOHNSON (Baton Rouge), 2021-B-01580 (1/26/22): The Court disbarred the respondent based upon an order of the Supreme Court of Missouri.

IN RE RICHARD L. REYNOLDS (Diamondhead, MS), 2021-B-01638 (1/26/22): The Court disbarred the respondent based upon an order of the Supreme Court of Mississippi.

Permanent Resignation in Lieu of Discipline:

IN RE JOHN DAVID ALLEN (Franklinton), 2021-OB-01783 (1/26/22).

IN RE PATRICK HALE DEJEAN (Westwego), 2021-OB-01890 (2/8/22).

When Does Unprofessional Behavior Violate the Rules of Professional Conduct?

In Louisiana, there are multiple professionalism codes, oaths and pledges setting forth aspirational goals for lawyers to help guide their behavior. The LSBA Code of Professionalism states that lawyers should conduct themselves with honesty, dignity, civility, courtesy and fairness; should not engage in demeaning or derogatory actions or commentary toward others; should not abuse participants in the judicial process; and should not engage in personal attacks on other counsel or the court.

While these codes suggest that a failure to uphold these goals marks conduct that is unprofessional, does unprofessional behavior sometimes cross the line into the realm of a disciplinary offense?

Test your knowledge here.