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SUPREME COURT OF LOUISIANA NO. 97-B-1304 IN RE: JOSE L. CASTRO

DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS PER CURIAM* This disciplinary matter arises from filing of one count of formal charges against respondent, Jose L. Castro, based on his plea of nolo contendere to four counts of insurance fraud for submitting altered medical records to two insurance carriers. The underlying facts indicate that on April 14, 1994, respondent was charged by the Orleans Parish District Attorney with four counts of insurance fraud in violation of La. R.S. 22:1243. State of Louisiana v. Jose Castro, No. 369-315, Criminal District Court for the Parish of Orleans. The bill of information alleged respondent altered

that, between February 1 and October 1, 1993, and forged four medical reports

of a physical therapist to make it

appear his clients received more treatment than they actually had, in order to induce insurers to pay larger settlements. The

financial injury was in the total amount of $1,800 to two insurance companies, Lloyd's Assurance of Louisiana ($290.00) and West

Republic Insurance ($1,085.00).

Respondent pleaded not guilty,

blaming the misconduct on an apparently non-existent paralegal, which he identified as "Keisha McHenry." interview with police, respondent again In a December 1994 placed blame on the

fictitious paralegal, an alleged former employee that he was unable to locate. When the police later arranged a photo lineup to

identify the alleged paralegal, respondent failed to appear. After several months of plea negotiations, respondent entered a plea of nolo contendere on March 15, 1996 to the criminal charges, and admitted at trial that he had fabricated the story of the non-existent paralegal. suspended,
*

He was sentenced to three years, inactive probation, 500 hours of

with

two

years

Calogero, C.J. not on panel.

Rule IV, Part 2,

Download 97-B-1304.pdf

Louisiana Law