On Wednesday, January 25, 2023, the Supreme Court of the State of Louisiana ordered the extension of the probation imposed upon Hammond attorney Jesse P. Lagarde for additional violations of the rules of professional conduct and violating probation terms.
The case is styled as ‘In Re: Jesse P. Lagarde’ and was brought by the Office of the Disciplinary Counsel under case no. 2022-B-01635.
The charges cited Rules of Professional Conduct, rules 1.3, (neglect of a legal matter), 1.4 (failure to communicate), and 8.1(c) (failure to cooperate).
The rules of professional conduct can be found here.
On September 27, 2021, the Court suspended Lagarde from the practice of law for a period of six months, with the suspension fully deferred in its entirety, subject to a one-year period of probation. The suspension stemmed from allegations that Lagarde neglected a client matter and failed to communicate with his client. Lagarde and the ODC submitted a joint petition for consent discipline in which Lagarde admitted his violations of the rules of professional conduct as charged.
A copy of Lagarde’s September 2021 suspension order can be found here.
The instant disciplinary matter arises from ODC’s motion seeking to revoke probation suspension because of the latter’s violation of additional rules of professional conduct while under probation concerning Lagarde’s September 2021 suspension.
The filing states:
“After the ODC filed the motion, the parties entered into a joint stipulation regarding respondent’s violations and jointly recommended that respondent’s probation be extended for one year with additional conditions. The disciplinary board accepted the stipulations and filed the instant recommendation in this court.”
Accordingly, the Court, after its review of the disciplinary board’s findings and recommendation, extended Lagarde’s probation.
The Disposition reads:
“. . . it is ordered that the one-year period of probation imposed against respondent in In re: Lagarde, 2100797 (La. 9.27/21), 323 So. 3d862, be extended for an additional period of one year, commencing from the date of finality of this judgment.”
The Court further ordered that Lagarde shall participate in the Louisiana State Bar Association’s Law Practice Management Program, attend the Solo and Small Firm Conference, and return any papers and property to which his former clients, Michael and Cynthia Bourg, are entitled.
The costs of the proceeding were taxed against Lagarde.
Mr. Jesse P. Lagarde practiced in Hammond, Louisiana prior to the suspension. He graduated from the Southern University Law Center in 2015. Lagarde has been licensed in Louisiana. His info can be found on LinkedIn.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
