When you hear of someone disturbing the peace, the image that comes to mind is probably not of your elderly grandmother. While it’s certainly possible for a 75-year-old to cause a ruckus, as a New Orleans disturbing the peace lawyer, it’s safe to say that they are not the most common suspects. That said, it’s important to remember that people may show their true colors when you least expect it. And, as a result, it’s important not to write anyone off or assume you know what may happen next. A recent story out of Covington reminds us that there are some events for which one cannot truly prepare.
Gun + an Attorney’s Office: Never a Good Combination
In late October, attorney Keith Couture was alone in his office when his client, Patricia Currie entered and threatened him at gunpoint. The reason for the attack? Couture believes it stemmed from Currie’s dissatisfaction with the current state of her long-standing feud with her homeowners’ association. Since 2012, Couture has acted as Currie’s attorney as she disputed the $18,000 that her homeowners’ association claims she owes in arrears. Currie does not believe she should be responsible for the dues. The association feels otherwise. To heighten the tension, just a few weeks prior to the attack, Couture had filed a motion to withdraw as Currie’s attorney due to fundamental disagreements between the two. The motion was denied. But, after the recent events, Couture believes his most recent motion will be approved.
You Can Protect Yourself
In the wake of this event, we can’t help but to be somewhat stunned. Having to deal with a client who arrives and threatens you at gunpoint is not something that most lawyers are trained to deal with and we are grateful that no one was harmed during the incident. However, it does remind us the importance of keeping ourselves and our clients safe, when emergencies arise. Luckily, in this case, Couture was alone in his office when Currie arrived with the gun. But, you can imagine how quickly an event like this could have escalated if other people had been in the building. Although there really is no way to prepare for something of this nature, we can suggest a few things for both private citizens and business owners to do in case of a similar event. First, ensuring that you have a reliable security camera will be helpful, should unfriendly visitors make a stop at your home or workplace. Regardless of what you are able to see, a good security system will get the facts. We also advise being trained in self-defense, just in case you find yourself in a situation where you need to use it. For the attorney, it was almost a reflex reaction to grab the gun from the woman’s hands. And, thankfully, he was able to do so without bringing harm to either of them. However, should your emergency put you in physical danger, it doesn’t hurt to be prepared. Ultimately, if you find yourself harmed in a situation of disturbing the peace, you do not have to deal with your case on your own. You owe it to yourself to have a legal team on your side fighting for you. Feel free to contact us today. At Bloom Legal, we are prepared to do what we can to help you get back on track.
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