IN RE: RAUSHANAH SHAKIA HUNTER (2018)

Although I agree with the per curiam's finding that respondent has violated the Rules of Professional Conduct as charged, I disagree with the sanction imposed as I find it unduly lenient. In my view, respondent's behavior towards clients and her willful disregard for the disciplinary process is troublesome at best. While I commend her statements of remorse, they belie her reluctance to make any restitution in the modest amount of $1,100 during a three-year period. Respondent has also yet to return any of the files requested by her clients, despite a subpoena and repeated requests by ODC. Furthermore, the incident in which respondent told a client who telephoned her that she had the “wrong number” is revealing of the extent taken to evade her responsibility to stand accountable to her clients. As a result, I find a full one year and one day suspension, with no time deferred, is warranted in this matter. See In re Jalila Bullock, 16-B-0075, p. 2 (La. 3/24/16), 187 So.3d 986, 993-4 (Crichton, J., dissenting, finding imposition of one year and one day (with all but six months deferred) too lenient, where respondent neglected client's legal matter involving claim for wrongful death of a child, allowed it to prescribe, and engaged in a cover-up).

CRICHTON, J., dissents in part and assigns reasons: