East Baton Rouge Parish School Board member Darryl Robertson, whose letter to The Advocate likened the takeover of failing schools to the Tuskegee experiment, could be in trouble over his law practice. A three-member Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board committee has recommended he be suspended for a year, six months of it deferred. The group suggests he be placed on supervised probation during the final six months, that a monitor be appointed to keep an eye on his practice for three months and that Robertson complete the Louisiana State Bar Association’s Ethics School Program. The Office of Disciplinary Counsel filed formal charges against Robertson in February, alleging he violated the Rules of Professional Conduct nine times. In its opinion, the review committee says the allegations have “been admitted and proven by clear and convincing evidence.”
The case involves Glen Brown, a client who sued Richardson Medical Center in 5th Judicial District Court. Brown paid Robertson a contingency fee, then tried unsuccessfully to reach the lawyer for a year and four months to discuss his claim. The case eventually was moved to federal court in Lafayette, where Robertson was not admitted to practice law. U.S. District Judge Robert James dismissed the case after Robertson ignored an order to take action. The committee’s recommendation to suspend Robertson now moves to the 14-member Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board, and the Louisiana Supreme Court has the final say. Calls to Robertson’s home went unanswered this morning. A spokeswoman for Robertson’s lawyer, Alfred Williams, says he is unreachable until December because he’s on vacation. For a copy of the report, click here.
Earlier, Robertson said he was rethinking his intention not to run for a third term. Robertson's letter prompted calls for his resignation from the board from Business Report publisher Rolfe McCollister, with nearly 80% of respondents to a Daily Report poll Friday agreeing. Robertson says he's received a great deal of support from his District 3 constituents, however, and might run for a third term. "Because of the reaction I've gotten from people in my community, I have to rethink that," he says. "I welcome the Business Report to poll people in District 3." Robertson stands by his letter here, saying the comparison between Tuskegee and school takeovers was an analogy similar to calling football players "killers." He hopes the flap presents a "teaching opportunity" and leads to "a frank and open discussion about educating our children."
Comments
Posted by pmccarron on November 26, 2008 at 8:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If anything should be compared to the Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment, it should be the EBR Public School Board, Teacher’s Union, Democrat Party Leadership, and the current Public School System that has been a complete FAILURE for the last 30+ Years.
NOW THAT IS A TUSKAGEE SYPHILLIS EXPERIMENT! Or as I like to say…another failed experiment in Socialism.
Time for CHANGE!!!
More charter school takeovers, so we don’t have people like Daryl Robertson and the EBR Public School Board running our schools.
Put schools into the hands of charitable and private organizations (ABR, 100 Black Men, etc.).
Then go VOUCHER!
Vouchers = Parent’s Choice = Government partnered with Private Schools
Fund the schools via a Voucher Program. Taxpayer pays the government. Government takes that money and gives it to the parent in the form of a voucher. The parent chooses which school to send their child and pays for it via the voucher. The school cashes in the voucher to pay for teachers, supplies, infrastructure etc.
The parents and students compete to get into the best schools. The schools compete for the best students and teachers. The schools that don’t perform – go out of business. The students that don’t perform – don’t get in the best schools. Competition brings out the best in people.
Which bring me to my next point….
Barack and Michelle Obama have CHOSEN a Washington, D.C., school for their daughters. Sasha, age 7, and Malia, age 10, will attend the Sidwell Friends School, a PRIVATE SCHOOL, that educates the children of much of Washington's elite (What's wrong with putting them in a Public School?).
If private schools are good enough for the Democrat Party Leadership – then private schools should be good enough for everyone. More charter school takeovers and vouchers – so that everybody, not just the elite, can afford proper schooling for their children.
Posted by lcjoseph on November 26, 2008 at 8:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
A contingency fee contract with an attorney means the fee is contingent upon a successful recovery for the client and such a fee is not paid until the conclusion of the case. Thus, Mr. Brown did not pay Attorney Robertson any legal fee but rather entered into a contingency fee contract. Nevertheless, this has no bearing on the allegations of failure to communicate with the client.
Post a comment
(Requires free registration.)