On March 17, the New Orleans Supreme Court suspended Councilman James Gray’s law license for 2 years. The ruling followed the recommendation of the Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board because the Court effectively agreed that Gray had mishandled the cases of several clients while practicing law as a private attorney. The high court also ruled that Gray had to refund fees to two of those clients in amounts determined by an arbitrator.
Specifically, the Court decision outlined four cases dating back to 2003 — a medical malpractice case, a wrongful death claim involving a jail inmate, an inheritance case and a criminal manslaughter charge. He was found guilty of neglecting his client’s cases. After the sentence, Mr. Gray made a public statement claiming that the suspension would not affect his effectiveness as an elected law official- “It has no effect on my ability to do my work on the council.” While there is no requirement that elected officials must be practicing attorneys, this news still comes as troubling.
A Medical Malpractice Attorney’s Obligation to His or Her Clients
All attorneys are must take an oath of ethics and are under a code of ethical constraints (called the code of Professional Responsibility) in order to be allowed to practice law. These ethical obligations are separate from the obligation of having to pass the bar exam, but is part the process in becoming sworn into the state bar in which one wants to practice in. Each state has its own ethics code or rules, and each state bar association has its own disciplinary counsel that investigates and punishes code violations, although core values remain the same in every state (ie. do not misrepresent the law, do not lie, do not neglect clients). The state disciplinary counsel in which an attorney is barred typically deals with ethical violations, although an attorney may still violate an ethics rule in a state in which s/he is not barred or practicing in.
While medical malpractice attorneys are obligated under the same set of ethical rules that all attorneys must abide by, medical malpractice cases are complex, lengthy, and also involve sensitive facts. Thus, in order to fulfill the role of a medical malpractice attorney, a lawyer must not only be able to listen and tell the story of his or client, but s/he must stay on top of the intricacies and requirements of each case. This means being on top of discovery and deadlines, understanding the mass volume of documents, and above all else, handle the matter with the utmost sensitivity/ not neglect a case or client.
Get Legal Help for Medical Malpractice and Injury Cases
Injuries caused by medical malpractice or negligence cause substantial hardship on the victims as well as their loved ones. Harrell & Nowak has zealously represented people who have suffered from medical malpractice as well as those who have suffered personal injuries in litigation against tortfeasers. We have recovered millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts on behalf of clients, and a success rate of 90% in our litigation. We will give each client the attention they deserve for each case. If you have or a loved one has been injured contact our New Orleans injury law firm today for a free, confidential consultation.