In re Blanche

Summary

The Louisiana Supreme Court reviews disciplinary charges against Lewis B. Blanche arising from drug- and alcohol-related criminal convictions and neglect of a client matter. Although the baseline sanction was disbarment, the court imposed a three-year suspension retroactive to the date of his interim suspension, based in significant part on his demonstrated recovery from chemical dependency.

Holdings

1. The deemed-admitted facts, together with the record, established that Blanche violated Rule 8.4(b) through his criminal conduct and violated Rules 1.3 and 1.4 through neglect of a client matter and failure to communicate with the client.
2. A three-year suspension from the practice of law, retroactive to November 9, 2010, was the appropriate sanction instead of disbarment.

Questions Presented

1. Whether the deemed-admitted factual allegations established violations of the Louisiana Rules of Professional Conduct.
2. What sanction was appropriate for Blanche's criminal convictions, neglect of a client matter, and failure to communicate, considering his substance dependence and rehabilitation.
3. Whether the mitigating circumstances justified a downward deviation from the baseline sanction of disbarment.

Disposition

other