Attorneys E. Eric Guirard and Thomas Pittenger are set to go to court next month, but this time to defend themselves. Oral arguments are scheduled for March 18 before the Louisiana Supreme Court on whether the pair of lawyers will be permanently disbarred. The Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board wants Guirard and Pittenger disbarred for allegedly letting regular folks do the work of lawyers and rewarding them with bonuses, commissions and trips for signing clients and settling cases quickly. One of the board’s committees, however, had recommended only suspensions after finding Guirard and Pittenger thought they were following the rules.
A call to Guirard was not returned this morning. “The oral argument has been scheduled for March 18 and Mr. Guirard and Mr. Pittenger have filed their briefs with the Louisiana Supreme Court, and the Office of Disciplinary Counsel will be filing their briefs in due course,” says Guirard’s attorney, James Clary Jr. “We are confident that this court will handle the matter in an appropriate and fair manner.”—Penny Brown Font
