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SUPREME COURT OF LOUISIANA NO. 00-B-0413 IN RE: DALE C. P. CANNIZZARO

ATTORNEY DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS PER CURIAM*
This disciplinary matter arises from a petition for consent discipline filed prior to the institution of formal charges by respondent, Dale C. P. Cannizzaro, an attorney licensed to practice law in Louisiana, but currently on interim suspension.1 The Office of Disciplinary Counsel ("ODC") concurred in respondent's petition, and the disciplinary board recommended the proposed consent discipline be accepted.

UNDERLYING FACTS Raymond Mayeaux retained respondent to represent him in a personal injury matter. The case ultimately settled, and when respondent disbursed the settlement proceeds in December 1994, he retained $660 to pay a third-party medical provider. However, respondent failed to pay the medical provider promptly and failed to properly safeguard the funds he retained for that purpose. It was not until July 1997 that respondent paid his client's medical expenses. In an unrelated case, Elizabeth Theriot retained respondent to represent her in a child custody and DWI matter. Respondent failed to adequately communicate with Ms. Theriot. She eventually discharged respondent and retained new counsel.

*

Calogero, C.J., not on panel. Rule IV, Part II,

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Louisiana Law