Ethics
Lawyer’s disciplinary probation needs to be revoked after he ‘failed miserably,’ listening to board says
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 shopper belief account, based on a suggestion by a listening to committee of the Louisiana Legal professional 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 shopper belief account, based on a suggestion by a listening to committee of the Louisiana Legal professional Disciplinary Board.
Chester J. Rothkamm Jr. of Louisiana transformed greater than $144,000 to his use whereas on disciplinary probation and falsely stated the cash had been misappropriated by his accountant, based on an Aug. 12 listening to committee suggestion famous by the Authorized Career Weblog.
The Louisiana Supreme Court docket had accepted a joint petition for self-discipline towards 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 impartial executor the greater than $144,000 deposited in his belief account from a property sale regardless of “a number of court docket filings and judicial intervention.” When Rothkamm disobeyed a court docket order to offer the cash inside 24 hours, he served a day in jail on a contempt of court docket cost.
Rothkamm additionally failed to offer belief account data and reconciliation statements to monitoring counsel as required by his disciplinary settlement, the listening to committee stated.
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 court docket to show his worthiness to apply legislation. Rothkamm has now misplaced this opportunity.”
The continuing earlier than the listening to committee was restricted as to whether Rothkamm’s probation can be revoked. However “given the gravity of the extra misconduct,” the committee stated it might suggest 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 searching for remark that was left together with his legislation agency.
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