Guess He's No Longer 'The Thugs' Lawyer'
Last year we wrote about Peter "P'Ta Mon" John, whom we named an ATL Lawyer of the Day. In an innovative advertisement, Peter John dubbed himself "The Thugs Lawyer," with the following motto: "No Evidence -- No Conviction!"
Now, a quick update. The latest edition of the Baton Rouge phone book contains Mr. John's newest ad (see below). He no longer calls himself "The Thugs Lawyer," but he still uses the "no evidence -- no conviction" slogan. And he's offering an "Expungement Special," for just $500! (Plus filing fees.)

P.S. We don't know about how state systems deal with this issue. But in the federal system, in most circuits, expungement is a tough row to hoe. We worked on one such case in the Third Circuit: United States v. Rowlands (PDF; via Third Circuit Blog).
No jurisdiction to expunge criminal records in absence of challenge to underlying conviction [Third Circuit Blog]







Comments
First
Posted by: First Again | January 22, 2008 04:06 PM
these pretzels are making me FIRSTY!!
Posted by: First | January 22, 2008 04:08 PM
He drives a way better car than I do
Posted by: Anonymous | January 22, 2008 04:09 PM
this guy is truly awesome
Posted by: Anonymous | January 22, 2008 04:10 PM
Back at my high school, guys used to get expungement for $500 plus filing fees. It was no big deal.
Posted by: Frat Stud | January 22, 2008 04:11 PM
Its a lease, I'm sure.
Posted by: Anonymous | January 22, 2008 04:11 PM
Do you think "The 'Q' Firm" is hiring laterals or are too busy recruiting clerks right now?
Posted by: Anonymous | January 22, 2008 04:14 PM
Trial LawyerS??? Does he have a split personality or is there actually someone out there who works with him? Loyola2L, maybe?
Posted by: Anonymous | January 22, 2008 04:16 PM
What is the genesis of the "Back at my high school" comments?
Posted by: Anonymous | January 22, 2008 04:20 PM
Thugs need love, too
Posted by: Anonymous | January 22, 2008 04:20 PM
Phil Collins was in Genesis. Peter Gabriel, too.
Posted by: Anonymous | January 22, 2008 04:23 PM
This is ridiculously ghetto (and I am black).
However, before anyone starts using this as an example to justify racism, let's just remember that a white lawyer at Cravath sleeps with thirteen year-olds...
That is all.
Posted by: Don't hate...at least not in a racist way | January 22, 2008 04:27 PM
Expungement sounds nice, but I'm really more in the market for a luxury fitness boot camp. Does anyone know where I can find one of those?
Posted by: Anonymous | January 22, 2008 04:27 PM
This guy is a badass. The Jamaican flag belt buckle is a great touch.
Posted by: anon | January 22, 2008 04:27 PM
I don't know, I think it is just an SLK-class. Those things start at $45k. I would be impressed if he were driving an SLR-class, though.
Posted by: Anonymous | January 22, 2008 04:35 PM
4:27:
Really? Are you not doing that which you are admonishing?
Posted by: Glass House Resident | January 22, 2008 04:39 PM
I left my criminal practice because of guys like this. That said, this made my day. WHAAAAAAAAAAT? WHAAAAAAAAT? OK!
Posted by: Former Criminal Practitioner | January 22, 2008 04:41 PM
either way it is better than my ride. (the F train)
Posted by: Anonymous | January 22, 2008 04:41 PM
Uh, just because some there is no federal jurisdiction over (most) expungments doesn't mean that they're not alive and well under state law.
Posted by: Anonymous | January 22, 2008 04:47 PM
White Girls with P'Ta Mon John
Posted by: P'Ta Mon John | January 22, 2008 04:48 PM
lol at 4:41. So on the money.
O-KAY!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Anonymous | January 22, 2008 04:49 PM
ahahah P'Tah Mon John HIMSELF posed a comment when he was lawyer of the day
Posted by: Anonymous | January 22, 2008 04:50 PM
Keep it in perspective. The F train is a far more expensive piece of machinery than any Mercedes. You are rollin' big time!
Posted by: Anonymous | January 22, 2008 04:50 PM
Just be gentle; I'm delicate like a flower.
Posted by: Anonymous | January 22, 2008 04:59 PM
This guy is the shit.
Posted by: Anonymous | January 22, 2008 05:06 PM
That guy stole my look!
Posted by: Blade | January 22, 2008 05:07 PM
Why is he ":trial lawyers" plural
Posted by: Anonymous | January 22, 2008 05:15 PM
Dear ATL readers, which would you advise for an aspiring associate (T5-Q Firm): sophisticated cross-border transactional work or complex bet-the-company litigation?
Posted by: Anonymous | January 22, 2008 05:17 PM
Q Firm associates to 9mm!
Posted by: Anonymous | January 22, 2008 05:20 PM
"I expunge ya bumbaclot conviction"
Posted by: Why did he have to be Jamaican? Smh | January 22, 2008 05:31 PM
expungements of arrests not resulting in conviction are easy to get under Louisiana law, and furthermore if you are sentenced to probation you can get misdemeanors, and some felonies, expunged after you complete your sentence.
And that's just what's in the law; if you know the judge you can get an even better deal than that.
Posted by: expunge | January 22, 2008 05:44 PM
Glass House Resident:
Not at all, just pointing out that stupidity comes in all colors. I didn't say he was a child molester because he was white.
Posted by: Stop hating... | January 22, 2008 05:50 PM
5:31 why oh why did he have to be Jamaican?
The J-flag belt buckle and necklace is priceless! My people, my people.
Posted by: lawdamercy | January 22, 2008 05:53 PM
Stop hating...:
I agree 100% that stipidity comes in all colors. I took issue with your post partly because you say, "This is ridiculously ghetto (and I am black)." Can you only say that because you are black? Does your conclusion that it is ghetto carry more weight because you are black? Can people who aren't black conclude that it is ghetto without being considered racist?
These are the questions that your post raised in my mind because it seemed to me that nobody had brought race into the evaluation of P'Ta Mon John (who I will definitely call if I'm ever arrested in Baton Rouge and/or need a reggae act at a party there) until you did. That was my point. Your's, that stupidity comes in all colors, is well taken.
Posted by: Glass House Resident | January 22, 2008 06:08 PM
04:39, agreed. 4:27, I am also black, and none of the comments preceeding yours had anything to do about race.
Too touchy.
Just because he's black, and you're black, and I'm black, we don't have to internalize crazy, stupid, weird, etc. things done by black people. We carry a heavy burden, I know, as evidenced by your knee jerk reaction to tell the world that he doesn't represent all of us.
Posted by: Anonymous | January 22, 2008 07:20 PM
Hey this guy ripped off my idea. Check it out, I'm way tougher then P'Ta Mon.
http://www.mendozalawfirm.com/EXPOAD.jpg
Posted by: Jose Mendoza | January 22, 2008 07:32 PM
I interviewed with this guy for a summer 2L associate position.
Posted by: TJ McDrinky | January 22, 2008 07:33 PM
7:32,
Your website is by Thomson/West?
"This FirmSite® is designed and hosted by Thomson FindLaw."
Posted by: Anonymous | January 22, 2008 11:13 PM
yoges in on this guy!
Posted by: yoges in | January 22, 2008 11:21 PM
Does P'Ta Mon have a website? Please tell me he does.
Posted by: Anonymous | January 23, 2008 03:29 AM
From his Lawyer of the Day comment:
Thank you all'z for your interest and commentary. Please see my other indulgences at www.myspace/ok2gutta. for all the haterz' Yall making me rich. Go to Billboard.com and type in 2Gutta and see how many timez my artist charted on billboard. You see the streets have taken over the board rooms and all the limits we forced into as a people have been compromized. Now you are spending your time elevating my ideas and making it possible for me to represent more drug users who want to shine and become legit businessmen. I believe in the worth of the drug dealer. I also believe in our system of justice. Thank you for your comment the person who commented about the LSU Law degree that I am some how tainting. I am not tainting anything I am painting the constution BLACK! P'Ta Mon: oneallegal.com oktopusgroup.com www.ptamon.com Thank You for your honesty!!
Posted by: P'Ta Mon | December 9, 2007 01:28 PM
Posted by: Anonymous | January 23, 2008 04:41 AM
He's from St. Croix, not from Jamaica ... that's what we call false advertising! The rest of that ad, is all true ...
Posted by: Anonymous | January 23, 2008 04:44 AM
Latty boy, you Federal types are so cloistered.
Every state has some sort of mechanism in place to expunge one's state arrest record. Some states allow expungement only if the charges were dropped or dismissed or the defendant was acquitted, while other states (like Louisiana, apparently) are far more generous.
Posted by: Anonymous | January 23, 2008 09:30 AM
Despite the fact that he wears a Jamaican Flag belt. He is not Jamaican, please note where Lat stated that he is from ---St. Croix. HE IS NOT JAMAICAN
Posted by: JaFakin | January 23, 2008 12:54 PM
This is the way to go- this guy actually practices law defeding people- the constitutionally contemplated role for attorneys- then he kicks back and smokes weed! I want to work with him.
Posted by: Hes got it | January 23, 2008 01:02 PM
Who wants to represent some articles of incorporation and a balance sheet when you can represent real people? As soon as I pay my loans off I'm going out to get mine like p'ta mon here. I don't care if it means I won't be able to afford a 3-series and an entry-level Rolex for a few years. Money leaves you empty and sad anyway.
Posted by: Anonymous | January 23, 2008 01:21 PM
Screwface is alive? I thought Steven Seagal got rid of him in Marked For Death?
Posted by: Anonymous | January 23, 2008 02:02 PM
Where did he go to Law School and Business School?
Posted by: Anonymous | January 24, 2008 10:39 AM
Where did he go to Law School and Business School?
Posted by: Anonymous | January 24, 2008 10:39 AM
LSU Law. Not sure about b-school.
Posted by: Anonymous | January 24, 2008 01:46 PM