Louisiana Court Disbars Attorney Who Allegedly Mishandled Claims Case

The Louisiana Supreme Court has disbarred a Lafayette attorney accused of failing to properly handle a client’s case, then lying to investigators about it.

Brad Thomas Andrus was formally disbarred, ordered to pay investigation costs and must participate in a program to make his former client whole, the court said in a ruling released Jan. 19.

KATC-TV reports the case against Andrus centered on his handling of a case for an Acadia Parish man who filed a claim with his insurance company after a broken water pipe damaged his home.

The court found that Andrus “engaged in serious attorney misconduct. He neglected his client’s legal matter, charged and collected an unreasonable fee, held client funds in his trust account, failed to return his client’s file upon request, and engaged in deceptive and dishonest behavior in the course of this disciplinary proceeding.”

The court also found that Andrus’ conduct was “knowing and intentional.”

The court said Andrus blocked a process server by claiming he was his twin brother and asked for a delay in the case, claiming his response to the accusations was on a laptop that had been stolen from his car. Church Point police found “inconsistencies” in his theft story.

“From the incredible tale of a vehicle burglary offered as justification for failing to timely respond to the disciplinary complaint, to his attempt to evade service of a subpoena by claiming to be his identical twin brother, and finally to submitting fabricated receipts and invoices to the ODC, respondent has violated the most fundamental duty of an officer of the court,” the ruling said. “The utter absence of candor respondent has demonstrated in these proceedings calls his good moral character into serious question and warrants disbarment.”