Supreme Court of Louisiana 

Page 1 of 1 

FOR IMMEDIATE NEWS RELEASE NEWS RELEASE #008

FROM: CLERK OF SUPREME COURT OF LOUISIANA

The Opinions handed down on the 14th day of February, 2018, are as follows:

PER CURIAM: 

2017-B-1547 IN RE: HAROLD D. REGISTER 

Upon review of the findings and recommendations of the hearing 

committee and disciplinary board, and considering the record and 

the brief filed by the ODC, it is ordered that Harold D. 

Register, Louisiana Bar Roll number 16764, be and he hereby is 

disbarred, retroactive to April 27, 2017, the date of his interim 

suspension. His name shall be stricken from the roll of attorneys 

and his license to practice law in the State of Louisiana shall 

be revoked. It is further ordered that respondent shall make 

restitution to LeDerian LeDay and to the third parties with an 

interest in his personal injury settlement, and shall pay the 

remaining funds owed to Dianne Glaude pursuant to their March 20, 

2015 settlement agreement. All costs and expenses in the matter 

are assessed against respondent in accordance with Supreme Court 

Rule XIX, § 10.1, with legal interest to commence thirty days 

from the date of finality of this court’s judgment until paid. 

GENOVESE,J., recused. 

JOHNSON, C.J., dissents and assigns reasons. 

HUGHES, J., dissents for the reasons assigned by Johnson, C.J. 
02/14/2018

SUPREME COURT OF LOUISIANA

NO. 2017-B-1547

IN RE: HAROLD D. REGISTER

ATTORNEY DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDING

PER CURIAM*

This disciplinary matter arises from formal charges filed by the Office of 

Disciplinary Counsel (“ODC”) against respondent, Harold D. Register, an attorney 

licensed to practice law in Louisiana but currently on interim suspension pursuant to 

a joint petition filed by the parties in April 2017. In re: Register, 17-0691 (La. 

4/27/17), 218 So. 3d 94.

UNDERLYING FACTS

Count I – The LeDay Matter

In December 2009, while respondent was representing LeDerian LeDay in a 

criminal matter, Mr. LeDay was involved in an automobile accident. In August 

2010, Mr. LeDay hired respondent on a contingency fee basis to represent him in his 

personal injury matter. The case settled in April 2011 for $10,000, at which time 

respondent endorsed the settlement check and deposited it into his client trust 

account. However, respondent did not disburse any funds to Mr. LeDay or provide 

him with a settlement disbursement statement. Respondent also did not pay Mr. 

LeDay’s medical providers or satisfy a lien for Mr. LeDay’s outstanding child 

support. In July 2013, Mr. LeDay filed a complaint against respondent with the 

ODC. 

 * Genovese, J., recused.
2

Respondent gave a sworn statement to the ODC in May 2014. He 

acknowledged that no disbursement had been made to any party as of the date of the 

statement, over three years after he deposited the settlement check into his client 

trust account. 

Mr. LeDay gave a sworn statement to the ODC in August 2014. He confirmed 

that no settlement funds had been disbursed as of the date of the statement. Mr. 

LeDay testified that this caused his credit standing to be negatively affected.

During the ODC’s investigation, respondent promised to produce copies of 

his bank statements to the ODC. He failed to do so, necessitating the issuance of a 

subpoena. In October 2014, respondent gave a second sworn statement and again 

failed to provide his bank statements. When the ODC finally obtained the requested 

information from respondent, the bank statements reflected that on several occasions 

in 2012, 2013, and 2014, respondent’s trust account balance fell below the $10,000 

he was holding on Mr. LeDay’s behalf.

The ODC alleged that respondent’s conduct violated Rule 1.15 (safekeeping 

property of clients or third persons) of the Rules of Professional Conduct.

Count II – The Glaude Matter

This matter arises from litigation relative to the seizure of $129,852 in 

currency by the United States government, and regarding which the government 

later initiated a civil forfeiture complaint. The currency was seized from the son of 

Dianne Glaude, who subsequently died. In March 2008, Ms. Glaude paid 

respondent $1,200 to represent her interests in her claim (as the heir to her son) for 

the return of the seized currency. In April 2011, respondent filed an unsigned and 

incomplete Verified Statement of Claim on behalf of Ms. Glaude. In response, the 

government filed a motion to strike. Respondent failed to oppose the motion to 

strike and failed to appear at the hearing on the motion. Consequently, in June 2011, 
3

the district court granted the motion to strike. Ms. Glaude’s Verified Statement of 

Claim was stricken from the record, and her matter ultimately dismissed via default 

judgment. 

In November 2011, Ms. Glaude filed a complaint against respondent with the 

ODC. Ms. Glaude asserted that respondent failed to communicate with her in a 

timely fashion throughout the representation, and when she did receive a text 

message from him, he indicated that he was “on top of this situation.” Ms. Glaude 

also stated that respondent failed to notify her of the proceedings in the district court 

or of the ruling granting the motion to strike. In response to the complaint, 

respondent indicated that Ms. Glaude’s case was complex and despite his best 

efforts he could not “change the position of the Federal Government.” Respondent 

noted that he had filed a motion seeking reconsideration of the district court’s ruling 

in order to protect Ms. Glaude’s interests, but the motion was denied.1

 

Respondent gave a sworn statement to the ODC in August 2012. He could 

not recall whether he had filed an opposition to the motion to strike and despite 

repeated requests, did not produce a copy of any such pleading. Asked why he did 

not appear in court for the hearing on the motion, respondent stated that the date was 

not marked on his calendar. Respondent indicated that he made efforts to effectively 

represent Ms. Glaude, but he also admitted that his efforts were not sufficient to 

obtain a positive outcome.

In 2012, Ms. Glaude filed a legal malpractice suit against respondent. The 

suit was settled in Ms. Glaude’s favor in March 2015.2

 1 The motion for reconsideration was denied in October 2011. The district court’s ruling stated 

that “because Ms. Claude did not sign her verified complaint and failed to properly state her 

interest in the property at issue, this Court properly struck her Verified Statement of Claim. 

Accordingly, this Court hereby DENIES the Motion for Reconsideration.”

2 The settlement agreement called for respondent to pay Ms. Glaude $17,000 within twelve months. 

Respondent paid only $12,000, with his last payment being made in October 2015. Respondent 

testified at the formal hearing that he stopped making payments pursuant to the settlement 
4

The ODC alleged that respondent’s conduct violated Rules 1.1(a) (failure to 

provide competent representation to a client), 1.3 (failure to act with reasonable 

diligence and promptness in representing a client), and 8.4(a) (violation of the Rules 

of Professional Conduct) of the Rules of Professional Conduct.

DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS

In April 2015, the ODC filed two counts of formal charges against respondent, 

as set forth above. He answered the formal charges, and the matter proceeded to a 

formal hearing on the merits, conducted by the hearing committee in September 

2016. 

Hearing Committee Report

After considering the testimony and evidence presented at the hearing, the 

hearing committee made factual findings that are consistent with the underlying facts 

set forth above. Based on these facts, the committee determined respondent violated 

the Rules of Professional Conduct as alleged in the formal charges. 

The committee determined that respondent knowingly violated duties owed 

to his clients. Respondent caused actual harm to Mr. LeDay by failing to distribute 

the settlement proceeds and by failing to satisfy Mr. LeDay’s outstanding lien and 

medical expenses. Ms. Glaude was actually harmed in that she lost her day in federal 

court and had to hire another attorney to assist her with recovery from the damages 

caused by respondent. She was further harmed by respondent’s failure to honor the 

terms of the settlement agreement he had reached with her in the malpractice suit. 

After considering the ABA’s Standards for Imposing Lawyer Sanctions, the 

committee determined that the applicable baseline sanction is suspension.

 

agreement when his contract as a public defender in Lafayette was terminated due to lack of 

funding.
5

In aggravation, the committee found a prior disciplinary record,3 a pattern of 

misconduct, multiple offenses, substantial experience in the practice of law 

(admitted 1985), and indifference to making restitution. In mitigation, the 

committee found that respondent has demonstrated remorse. 

After further considering respondent’s misconduct in light of this court’s prior 

jurisprudence addressing similar misconduct, the committee recommended 

respondent be suspended from the practice of law for three years. The committee 

also recommended that respondent be ordered to pay restitution to Mr. LeDay and 

to comply with the terms of the settlement agreement reached with Ms. Glaude.4

 

The ODC filed an objection to the hearing committee’s report. 

Disciplinary Board Recommendation

After review, the disciplinary board found that the hearing committee’s 

factual findings are not manifestly erroneous, with two minor exceptions. Based on 

these facts, the board determined that respondent violated the Rules of Professional 

Conduct as charged.

The board determined that respondent knowingly violated duties owed to his 

clients. He caused significant harm to Mr. LeDay and to third parties by failing to 

disburse settlement funds and converting those funds. This conversion is ongoing 

as the funds, received in April 2011, have yet to be disbursed. Respondent harmed 

Ms. Glaude by depriving her of a hearing on her claim. After considering the ABA’s 

 3 In 2003, the disciplinary board publicly reprimanded respondent and placed him on supervised 

probation for eighteen months with conditions for failing to promptly disburse settlement funds, 

mishandling his client trust account, and neglecting legal matters.

4 The committee further recommended that upon respondent’s reinstatement to the practice of law, 

he be subject to a two-year period of supervised probation with conditions. However, this court 

does not typically impose a period of probation in cases when the suspension imposed is greater 

than one year and one day, as such issues, along with any other relevant factors, are best addressed 

if and when the lawyer applies for reinstatement. See, e.g., In re: Southall, 14-2441 (La. 3/17/15), 

165 So. 3d 894; In re: Welcome, 02-2662 (La. 1/24/03), 840 So. 2d 519; In re: Harris, 99-1828 

(La. 9/17/99), 745 So. 2d 1172. 
6

Standards for Imposing Lawyer Sanctions, the board determined that the baseline 

sanction is suspension.

In aggravation, the board found a prior disciplinary record, multiple offenses, 

substantial experience in the practice of law, and indifference to making restitution. 

In mitigation, the board found remorse and remoteness of prior offenses.

After further considering this court’s prior jurisprudence addressing similar 

misconduct, the board recommended respondent be disbarred. Three board 

members dissented and would recommend a three-year suspension from the practice 

of law.

Respondent filed an objection to the disciplinary board’s recommendation. 

Pursuant to Supreme Court Rule XIX, § 11(G)(1)(b), the case was scheduled on our 

docket; however, respondent failed to file a brief and therefore waived his right to 

oral argument. Thereafter, the ODC filed a motion waiving its right to oral 

argument. We granted the ODC’s motion and now consider the case based upon the 

record and the brief filed by the ODC.

DISCUSSION

Bar disciplinary matters fall within the original jurisdiction of this court. La. 

Const. art. V, § 5(B). Consequently, we act as triers of fact and conduct an 

independent review of the record to determine whether the alleged misconduct has 

been proven by clear and convincing evidence. In re: Banks, 09-1212 (La. 10/2/09), 

18 So. 3d 57. While we are not bound in any way by the findings and 

recommendations of the hearing committee and disciplinary board, we have held the 

manifest error standard is applicable to the committee’s factual findings. See In re: 

Caulfield, 96-1401 (La. 11/25/96), 683 So.2d 714; In re: Pardue, 93-2865 (La. 

3/11/94), 633 So.2d 150.
7

The record of this matter supports a finding that respondent failed to provide 

competent representation to a client, neglected a legal matter, and converted client 

and third-party funds. This conduct amounts to a violation of the Rules of 

Professional Conduct as charged.

Having found evidence of professional misconduct, we now turn to a 

determination of the appropriate sanction for respondent’s actions. In determining 

a sanction, we are mindful that disciplinary proceedings are designed to maintain 

high standards of conduct, protect the public, preserve the integrity of the profession, 

and deter future misconduct. Louisiana State Bar Ass’n v. Reis, 513 So. 2d 1173 

(La. 1987). The discipline to be imposed depends upon the facts of each case and 

the seriousness of the offenses involved considered in light of any aggravating and 

mitigating circumstances. Louisiana State Bar Ass’n v. Whittington, 459 So. 2d 520 

(La. 1984).

Respondent knowingly violated duties owed to his clients, causing actual 

harm. The baseline sanction for this type of misconduct is suspension.

The record supports the following aggravating factors: a prior disciplinary 

record, multiple offenses, substantial experience in the practice of law, and 

indifference to making restitution. The record supports the following mitigating 

factors: remorse and remoteness of prior offenses.

Turning to the issue of an appropriate sanction, in Louisiana State Bar Ass’n 

v. Hinrichs, 486 So. 2d 116 (La. 1986), we conducted an extensive review of the 

jurisprudence in conversion cases in order to determine the appropriate sanctions for 

different types of conversion. We reserved disbarment, then the most serious 

sanction available, for conversion cases in which one or more of the following 

elements are present:

[T]he lawyer acts in bad faith and intends a result 

inconsistent with his client’s interest; the lawyer commits 

forgery or other fraudulent acts in connection with the 
8

violation; the magnitude or the duration of the deprivation 

is extensive; the magnitude of the damage or risk of 

damage, expense and inconvenience caused the client is 

great; the lawyer either fails to make full restitution or 

does so tardily after extended pressure of disciplinary or 

legal proceedings.

Here, respondent’s conduct falls within the scope of disbarment. The length 

of the deprivation in the LeDay matter is extensive (more than six years), and 

respondent has failed to make restitution, causing great expense and inconvenience 

to Mr. LeDay and to third parties. Coupled with respondent’s misconduct in the 

Glaude matter, we find there is no justification for a downward deviation from 

disbarment.

Under these circumstances, we will adopt the disciplinary board’s 

recommendation and impose disbarment. We will also order respondent to make 

restitution to Mr. LeDay and to the third parties with an interest in his settlement and 

to pay the remaining funds owed to Ms. Glaude pursuant to their settlement 

agreement. 

DECREE

Upon review of the findings and recommendations of the hearing committee 

and disciplinary board, and considering the record and the brief filed by the ODC, it 

is ordered that Harold D. Register, Louisiana Bar Roll number 16764, be and he 

hereby is disbarred, retroactive to April 27, 2017, the date of his interim suspension. 

His name shall be stricken from the roll of attorneys and his license to practice law 

in the State of Louisiana shall be revoked. It is further ordered that respondent shall 

make restitution to LeDerian LeDay and to the third parties with an interest in his 

personal injury settlement, and shall pay the remaining funds owed to Dianne Glaude 

pursuant to their March 20, 2015 settlement agreement. All costs and expenses in 

the matter are assessed against respondent in accordance with Supreme Court Rule 
9

XIX, § 10.1, with legal interest to commence thirty days from the date of finality of 

this court’s judgment until paid.
1

02/14/2018

SUPREME COURT OF LOUISIANA

No. 2017-B-1547

IN RE: HAROLD D. REGISTER

ATTORNEY DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDING

JOHNSON, Chief Justice, dissents and assigns reasons.

I disagree with the majority’s decision to impose disbarment in this case. 

Based on the record, I find a more appropriate sanction to be suspension. I agree 

with the hearing committee’s recommendation that respondent should be suspended 

from the practice of law for three years, subject to two years of supervised probation 

with conditions. 
02/14/2018

SUPREME COURT OF LOUISIANA

2017-B-1547

IN RE: HAROLD D. REGISTER

ATTORNEY DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDING

Hughes, J., dissents for the reasons assigned by Johnson, C.J.