In Re: Stephen Michael Smith

Supreme Court of Louisiana
July 02, 2020
Clerk of Court
For the Court
The Supreme Court of the State of Louisiana
IN RE: STEPHEN MICHAEL SMITH
No.2020-B-00578
_ _
_ _ _ _
I
N RE: Disciplinary Counsel - Applicant Other; Stephen Michael Smith - Applicant
Other; Joint Petition for Consent Discipline;
_ _ _ _ _ _
July 02, 2020
Joint petition for consent discipline accepted. See per curiam.
WJC
BJJ
JLW
JDH
SJC
JTG
JHB
07/02/2020 "See News Release 023 for any Concurrences and/or Dissents."

07/02/20
S
UPREME COURT OF LOUISIANA
NO. 2020
-B-0578
I
N RE: STEPHEN MICHAEL SMITH
AT
TORNEY DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDING
P
ER CURIAM
R
espondent and the Office of Disciplinary Counsel (“ODC”) submitted a joint
petition for consent discipline wherein respondent admitted to violating Rules
1.15(a), 1.15(b), 1.15(d), 1.15(f), 5.4(a), 5.5(a), and 8.4(a) of the Rules of
Professional Conduct. Having reviewed the petition,
IT IS ORDERED that the Petition for Consent Discipline be accepted and that
Stephen Michael Smith, Louisiana Bar Roll number 28235 , be and he hereby is
suspended from the practice of law for a period of one year. All but ninety days of
this suspension shall be deferred. Following the active portion of the suspension,
respondent shall be placed on probation for a period of one year with the condition
that he attend the Louisiana State Bar Association’s Ethics School and Trust
Accounting School . The probationary period shall commence from the date
respondent and the ODC execute a formal probation plan. Any failure of respondent
to comply with the conditions of probation, or any misconduct during the
probationary period, may be grounds for making the deferred portion of the
suspension executory, or imposing additional discipline, as appropriate.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that all costs and expenses in the matter are
assessed against respondent in accordance with Supreme Court Rule XIX, § 10.1,
with legal interest to commence thirty days from the date of finality of this court’s
judgment until paid.