Second Chance

The Louisiana Supreme Court has readmitted an attorney conditionally licensed in 2011 who violated the conditions

Petitioner disclosed two DWI arrests on his application to take the Louisiana bar examination. In addition, the reported findings of an evaluation by the Lawyers Assistance Program (“LAP”) indicated the need for an intensive outpatient treatment program and ongoing monitoring by LAP as a result of petitioner’s history of alcohol abuse. In 2011, we conditionally admitted petitioner to the practice of law, subject to a period of probation coinciding with the remainder of his LAP agreement, which he entered into on October 21, 2009. In re: Ranshi, 09-2722 (La. 03/25/11), 57 So. 3d 1019. On May 13, 2014, we revoked petitioner’s conditional admission after he violated the terms of his LAP contract by testing positive for alcohol use while under monitoring of that program. In re: Ranshi, 14-0767 (La. 5/13/14), 139 So. 3d 989…

After considering the record in its entirety, we will adopt the adjudicative committee chair’s recommendation and readmit petitioner to the practice of law. Petitioner voluntarily admitted himself to Palmetto Addiction Recovery Center for inpatient treatment from June 2, 2014 through August 18, 2014. He continues treatment through aftercare counseling with a social worker and through quarterly follow-up care at Palmetto. He is currently considered to be in sustained full remission from alcohol dependence and safe to practice law. Petitioner also signed a new five-year LAP agreement on September 9, 2014, and LAP’s executive director indicates petitioner has remained compliant with the terms and conditions of the agreement since that time.

The conditional readmission requires compliance for five years and also comes with a stern warning

In light of petitioner’s past conduct, we take this opportunity to caution him that, in the future, we will expect nothing less than scrupulous adherence to the requirements of his LAP agreement. The ODC shall monitor petitioner’s compliance with his LAP agreement and notify this court of any violation, which may be grounds for immediately transferring petitioner to disability inactive status, or placing him on interim suspension, as appropriate.

(Mike Frisch)