| ► Attorney Kenneth Doggett of Alexandria, LA; ethical misfit |
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Attorney Kenneth Doggett of Alexandria, LA; ethical misfit
The state of Louisiana presented Kenneth A. Doggett with a law license in 1997.
The Office of Disciplinary Counsel found Kenneth guilty of the following misconduct.
In one matter, Kenneth personally approved a settlement of a client’s case without first obtaining the client’s consent. He then approved the settlement and disbursed funds.
Kenneth was clearly aware that he did not possess a power of attorney to act on his client’s behalf without first obtaining his consent in writing. Kenneth laughingly relied on language in his fee agreement that stated,
“Attorney is hereby granted special powers of attorney to sing, endorse and negotiate in client’s name any checks of any nature whatsoever issued in connection with this matter, to sign any settlement documents, to receive and demand payment, and Attorney is hereby authorized and directed to withhold from said payments the appropriate attorney’s fees, expenses, and/or advances associated with the handling of my [client] claim.”
Kenneth absolutely knew that Rule 1.8 of the Louisiana Rules of Professional Conduct expressly prohibited such a power of attorney. Of course in his zeal to enrich himself, Kenneth wasn’t about to let the Rules get in his way.
As a consequence of his misconduct, the cheerleaders for Attorney Misfits sitting on the Louisiana Supreme Court punished Kenneth by gifting him with a complimentary 30-day suspension of his law license.
As we speak (ca. October 2012) Kenneth practices at 5515 John Eskew Blvd. in Alexandria, Louisiana.
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