What can I do if I was the plaintiff in a case and before any settlement was reached, my attorney was paid by the defendant for my legal fees?

Louisiana's attorney ethics rules prohibit an attorney from accepting payment of attorney fees from anyone besides his client without the expressed written consent from his client. Your question doesn't give any information about the type of case you had, but if you believe your attorney was paid by the defendant without your consent, I'd certainly suggest that you discuss your concerns with your lawyer. If you still feel his actions were an ethical violation, you should contact the Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board.