A Louisiana federal district judge dismissed a lawsuit, finding the counsel did not represent the plaintiff, and the defendant insurance company asked that the Houston law firm and its attorneys be referred for disciplinary proceedings.

U.S. District Judge Lance Africk of the Eastern District of Louisiana on Feb. 9 entered an order dismissing Franatovich v. Allied Trust Insurance after concluding the plaintiff's supposed attorney did not have an attorney engagement agreement with the plaintiff when he filed the lawsuit.

Counsel for the insurance company, Matthew Monson, showed an alleged pattern of the law firm McClenny, Moseley & Associates in Houston of preparing hundreds of hurricane damage claims based on alleged unethical practices.