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Lawyer’s disciplinary probation ought to…
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Lawyer’s disciplinary probation must be revoked after he ‘failed miserably,’ listening to board says
By Debra Cassens Weiss
August 26, 2025, 9:20 am CDT
A Louisiana lawyer ought to by suspended as a result of he “failed miserably” whereas on disciplinary probation for mishandling his consumer belief account, in accordance with a suggestion by a listening to committee of the Louisiana Lawyer Disciplinary Board. (Picture from Shutterstock)
A Louisiana lawyer ought to by suspended as a result of he “failed miserably” whereas on disciplinary probation for mishandling his consumer belief account, in accordance with a suggestion by a listening to committee of the Louisiana Lawyer Disciplinary Board.
Chester J. Rothkamm Jr. of Louisiana transformed greater than $144,000 to his use whereas on disciplinary probation and falsely mentioned the cash had been misappropriated by his accountant, in accordance with an Aug. 12 listening to committee suggestion famous by the Authorized Occupation Weblog.
The Louisiana Supreme Court docket had accepted a joint petition for self-discipline in opposition to Rothkamm in Might 2023 that imposed a deferred suspension of a 12 months and a day for the belief account violations. He wouldn’t should serve the suspension if he efficiently accomplished a two-year interval of supervisory probation.
In line with the listening to board, Rothkamm violated his disciplinary probation settlement by failing to show over to an unbiased executor the greater than $144,000 deposited in his belief account from a property sale regardless of “a number of courtroom filings and judicial intervention.” When Rothkamm disobeyed a courtroom order to supply the cash inside 24 hours, he served a day in jail on a contempt of courtroom cost.
Rothkamm additionally failed to supply belief account info and reconciliation statements to monitoring counsel as required by his disciplinary settlement, the listening to committee mentioned.
Rothkamm had stipulated to wrongdoing.
“The stipulation demonstrates that Rothkamm has failed miserably to adjust to the mandates of the Louisiana Supreme Court docket, in addition to his probation plan,” the listening to committee discovered. “Rothkamm was given an opportunity by the courtroom to show his worthiness to apply regulation. Rothkamm has now misplaced this opportunity.”
The continuing earlier than the listening to committee was restricted as to if Rothkamm’s probation can be revoked. However “given the gravity of the extra misconduct,” the committee mentioned it might advocate an extended suspension and restitution if it had the authority to take action.
Rothkamm’s lawyer, Rodney Baum, didn’t instantly reply to the ABA Journal’s e-mail request for remark. Rothkamm additionally didn’t instantly reply to a Journal message in search of remark that was left along with his regulation agency.
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