Friday, December 11, 2009

Kuns now practicing law again

CORRECTION: Ms. Kuns was disbarred from practicing before the State Supreme Court. This website was under the impression from the order she was barred from practicing in Ms, which was not the case. A call to the state bar, review of the order, and consulting with other attorneys were made before posting. I am very aware of sanctions and what they are but was under the impression as written earlier she was disbarred. That was not the case and an apology goes to Ms. Kuns. The post was made to point out she was practicing again and was actually taking up for her. Thanks goes to those who pointed out the error. Unlike the JFP, things don't just disappear or get ignored like at the CL, when we screw up, we say so on this site.




Laura Kuns is practicing law again. Jackson Jambalaya reported earlier this year she had been disbarred by the Mississippi Supreme Court. The former MC Law School professor had testified to having an affair with then-Justice Oliver Diaz in his trial. Ms. Kuns was disbarred for (ready for this?) not paying $1,500 in lawyer fees. How many clients stiff their attorneys on legal fees yet she gets disbarred. Can we say payback by the good ole boys? Disbarment

Since this website reported she was disbarred, it's only fair to report she is reinstated and currently practicing law again. There was something that just seemed terribly wrong about a former State Supreme Court Justice practicing law and living the good life while his former girlfriend lost her job because of his inability to stay out of trouble, and his friends on the Court disbar her for such a small amount. Isn't that how it works in Mississippi? The man does what he wants and the woman pays for it? Hope her career takes off again because the former member of the Mississippi College Law Review is a very talented and capable attorney.

28 comments:

Anonymous said...

Plus she has two children, one of whom is autistic, that she's raising along with her ex-husband. Certainly hasn't helped her financially.

Anonymous said...

i was a student of hers at MCSOL. she was the most disorganized and irresponsible professor i had there. she wouldn't show up for class, student meetings, etc. i feel for her with her children but, consistently not showing up for classes and meetings without letting the students know anything ahead of time is unacceptable and certainly not a trait that I would look for in an attorney.

Anonymous said...

She still in Jackson? Anon, sorry to hear of your experience. However, I'd say that your experience is far more preferable than having a professor who treats class as a comedy club open mike night, ones that don't give you feedback, and others that just dismiss you with "are you bothering me" curious looks. "Yes I am... I'm paying you to teach me."

Jim Craig said...

Who is she practicing with?

Anonymous said...

As I read the Order Ms. Kuns was not "disbarred" at all - she was held in contempt for failing to pay sanctions (generally awarded to another lawyer or firm for some failure to follow the rules on the part of a lawyer - in the Order Ms. Kuns was the one sanctioned). The order merely said she could not practice before the Supreme Court until she paid the amount she was sanctioned for... As for the "good ole boys" - I am not sure anyone on the Court should be considered a "good ole boy"... And about affairs (if your article is accurate about this), it is really sad when any man or woman gets involved with someone not their spouse...generally a person creates their own problems, but it sure is easy to blame other people

Kingfish said...

The Court said she was "barred from the practice of law". I would say that is disbarred. When she met their conditions, they obviously reinstated her license.

Accurate about an affair? It was on the front page of the Clarion-Ledger and she admitted to it on the stand. Good enough for you?

Anonymous said...

Accurate as the sun rises in the east. She paid the price for her complicity in Diaz and Minor's graft; while Diaz walked away with nothing more than unwarranted, arrogant indignation.

Anonymous said...

9:33-May your superior moral judgment always guide your decisions.

Anonymous said...

Laura is one of the most talented, professional people I know (and I've worked with A LOT of lawyers and law professors!) I studied under her and helped her with research on a few cases. I am very glad to hear that she is getting her career back on track.

Anonymous said...

I don't understand. Why didn't she just pay the $1500 rather than get disbarred?

Anonymous said...

She was broke ?

Anonymous said...

Kingfish - your comment leaves off an important part of the Order - while it does state she was "barred from the practice of law", the sentence does not end there but goes on to say "BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT" - not in all courts - she was sanctioned and could not appear before the Supreme Court again until she paid the money she was santioned...

Anonymous said...

She was never barred from the practice of law, only before the Supreme Court. Please don't spread false rumors around about her. She's had a hard enough time without this type of misinformation all over the place.

Chachi_Azzhola said...

HEY, KINGFISH!! I hope you have libel and defamation insurance because I just read the Court order you linked. That is NOT an order of "disbarment": It is a contempt citation by the Court. A disbarment proceeding calls into account an attorney's professional or ethical conduct and is initated by the state bar acting in a prosecutorial capacity following an investigation. A contempt citation merely penalizes a failure to comply with a pre-existing Court order on matters that have already been before the Court and has absolutely no bearing on this particular sanctioned attorney's honesty or professional competency. ANYONE (lawyer or not) who is found in contempt by the Court is ordered to purge themselves of the contempt and pay the sanction before they may appear before the Court again. Contempt citations with money sanctions are really quite a common occurrence in domestic relations cases in chancery courts. You REALLY jumped the shark on this one. Free legal advice for you: Remove this entire post and pray Mrs. Kuns has not seen it.

Chachi_Azzhola said...

Nice of you to add the "correction" at the top of the page a couple of hours after reading my previous post, BUT the first sentence of your "correction" is still quite wrong. Again, Kuns was not "disbarred" and your correction continues the defamation. Attorneys are not "disbarred" (your word) from practicing before a Court. Kuns was, in fact, barred from practicing before the Court until she purged herself of the contempt. There's a huge difference between being professionally "disbarred" and merely being "barred" until you meet a Court's condition. In the future, you can find records of MS Bar's disciplinary actions in back issues of "The Mississippi Lawyer" magazine - the pages you want to read there are even color-coded for fast access.

Kingfish said...

So why was she sanctioned? Why don't you answer that question since you want to continue to be a jerk.

Kingfish said...

as for praying she hasn't seen it, gimme her email address and I'll send it to her. I have no problem calling your bluff.

Anonymous said...

I don't know KF, but I know Laura.

I took this post as a congratulatory one in that some people were overly negative about Laura and it is a good thing if she is getting things in order. Good for her.

As someone who has made more than his share of mistakes, I could not imagine having such a personal one made public and the ensuing aftermath that KF correctly described.

So, why not just be glad for her that things are going back on the right track? Some people are such asshats that they can't stand to see someone improve.

Anonymous said...

F-in' lawyerin'...nice to see you threaten instead of participate in constructive conversation...

Go KF, let the lawyers whine...WAAAA!

And the dope actually said he/she was leaving "free" legal advice? Never heard of it!

Anonymous said...

And why must we go to the magazine? Shouldn't this information be published online to PROTECT THE PUBLIC from those unable to maintain the high standards of the MS Bar?

Kingfish said...

And they are about the only profession in Mississippi that does not post their complaint forms online.

The Missisippi Lawyer is published five times a year. The summer issue is online here

They will probably argue thus it is available online. You just have to go digging through old issues to find the information though. Hmmm...Maybe every time an issue comes out I should start posting the disciplinary actions. Gave me my next post. Thank you Chachi le cocksucker. The other lawyers in the state are really going to love you.

Anonymous said...

Nice! Very Nice. Some of these bozo's should be careful for what they ask for, they just might get it! Nice work KF! I applaud your work!

Anonymous said...

Another thing, I think I have a copy of the complaint pamphlet and a copy of the complaint form...want a copy?

Anonymous said...

Can someone explain something to me? Is it typical in MS for married public figures to file income tax forms separately from his/her spouse? In the Diaz case, his wife pled guilty, but he fought it and got acquitted. If they filed "married" they both must have signed the form at the bottom swearing all info was true, so how could the same info lead to her being guilty if he was innocent? A similar thing applied to the mayor of a Madison County town whose spouse was found guilty of deceiving a landowner out of the rightful value of a property, then sold it and pocketed the difference without paying taxes on it. The settlement was sealed, but I wonder about the mayoral spouse, and if the settlement covered charges for filing false statements for both parties. Curiously, this question has never come up in any subsequent campaign.

Kingfish said...

Hell yes. Email them to me. We'll post them here.

Gamecock said...

Kingfish, Your Bluff is officially called. Laura Kuns' professional contact e-mail and her physical address, like every other Mississippi lawyer in good standing, is currently (12/16/09) in the attorney directory section at msbar.org and YOU should have known that. I am in SC, and I found it. Feel free to send Kuns your little entry about her "disbarment" as you promise above, and think about this: You just blew the absence of malice defense there too with that little entry of yours to Chachi. Do tell us how it goes.

Kingfish said...

Sue away, sweetpea.

Anonymous said...

Instead of telling him how sweet his pea is to you, You really should send it to Miss Kuns since you claimed you would and the guy above told you how to get it to her. So what if she sues you? You're a blogger: It's not like a blogger would have any assets worth suing for.



Recent Comments

Search Jackson Jambalaya

Subscribe to JJ's Youtube channel

Archives

Trollfest '09

Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


Note: Security provided by INS.

Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

Note: Security provided by INS
.