► Attorney Carla Gaston of Lafayette, LA; crooked loser Print
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Attorney Carla Gaston of Lafayette, LA; crooked loser

 
The state of Louisiana presented Carla M. Gaston with a law license in 1998.
 
The Office of Disciplinary Counsel found Carla guilty of the following misconduct.
  1. Engaged in conduct involving fraud, dishonesty, deceit or misrepresentation
  2. Failed to act with reasonable diligence (slacker)
  3. Failed to communicate with client
  4. Failed in safekeeping client property/funds
  5. Failed to refund unearned fees (crook)
  6. Knowingly violated duties she owned to clients
  7. Misconduct harmed clients
  8. Demonstrated indifference to making restitution to clients
In one matter, Toni Welch hired Carla to represent her in ongoing litigation against the contractor who built her home and the bank that financed the construction. Ms. Welch paid Carla a $2,000 deposit for litigation related costs and expenses, which she then deposited into a client trust account. Carla then directed Ms. Welch to execute a contingency fee agreement that called for a fee of one-third.
 
Subsequently, Carla filed a Chapter 7 bankruptcy petition for Ms. Welch while the civil lawsuit was still pending. Carla did not disclose in the bankruptcy filing her receipt of the $2,000 payment from Ms. Welch. She also did not withdraw as Ms. Welch’s counsel of record in the civil cases.
 
Several months later, Ms. Welch fired Carla in the civil litigation because she was neglecting the matters. At this time, Carla had spent $670 of Ms. Welch’s $2,000 deposit for various court costs. Carla responded to the firing by telling Ms. Welch that she intended to retain the remaining $1,330 as her attorney fees. However, Carla never obtained Ms. Welch’s approval or authorization to do so. Of course Carla had now lawful right to the $1,330 since it legally was the property of the bankruptcy trustee.
 
As a consequence of his misconduct, the cheerleaders for Attorney Misfits sitting on the Louisiana Supreme Court punished Carla by gifting her with a complimentary 12-month suspension of his law license.
 
As we speak (ca. December 2012) Carla continues to practice in the Lafayette, Louisiana area.