In Re: Michael P. Arata

Supreme Court of Louisiana
March 22, 2022
Chief Deputy Clerk of Court
For the Court
The Supreme Court of the State of Louisiana
IN RE: MICHAEL P. ARATA
No. 2022-OB-00262
_ _ _ _ _ _
IN RE: Of
fice of Disciplinary Counsel (ODC) - Applicant Other; Findings and
Recommendations (Readmission);
_ _ _ _ _ _
March 22, 2022
Readmission granted. See per curiam.
SJC
JLW
JDH
JTG
WJC
JBM
PDG
03/22/2022 "See News Release 012 for any Concurrences and/or Dissents."

S
UPREME COURT OF LOUISIANA
NO. 20
22-OB-0262
I
N RE: MICHAEL P. ARATA
ON AP
PLICATION FOR READMISSION
P
ER CURIAM
Th
is proceeding arises out of an application for readmission to the practice of
law filed by petitioner, Michael P. Arata, a disbarred attorney.
UNDE
RLYING FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
In May 2014, petitioner and two co-defendants were indicted in the United
States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana on charges of defrauding
a state tax credit program of approximately $1.1 million in connection with the
renovation of a historic New Orleans mansion into a post -production film studio.
After a jury trial, and protracted post-trial proceedings and appeals, petitioner stood
convicted of multiple counts of conspiracy, mail and wire fraud, and making false
statements to the FBI.
On February 17, 2016, we interimly suspended petitioner from the practice of
law based upon his conviction of a serious crime. In re: Arata, 16 -0203 (La.
2/17/16), 184 So. 3d 671. The Office of Disciplinary Counsel (“ODC”) then filed
formal charges against petitioner. At the conclusion of the disciplinary proceedings,
we disbarred petitioner retroactive to the date of his interim suspension. In re: Arata,
20-1487 (La. 4/20/21), 313 So. 3d 1223.
In May 2021, p etitioner filed an application for r eadmission with the
disciplinary board, alleging he has complied with the readmission criteria set forth
in Supreme Court Rule XIX, § 24(E). The ODC took no position regarding the
03/22/22

2

application for readmission. Accordingly, the matter was referred for a formal
hearing before a hearing committee.
Following the hearing, the committee recommended that petitioner be
readmitted to the practice of law . Neither petitioner nor the ODC obje cted to the
committee’s recommendation.

DISCUSSION
After considering the record in its entirety, we find there is clear and
convincing evidence of petitioner’ s compliance with the readmission criteria.
Accordingly, we will adopt the hearing committee’ s recommendation and readmit
petitioner to the practice of law.

DECREE
Upon review of the recommendation of the hearing committee, and
considering the record, it is ordered that Michael P. Arata , Louisiana Bar Roll
number 21448, be immediately readmitted to the practice of law in Louisiana . All
costs of these proceedings are assessed against petitioner.