Recovery Merits Censure With Conditions

The South Carolina Supreme Court accepted a consent agreement to impose a public reprimand of an attorney

The Court conditionally admitted Respondent to the practice of law on July 7, 2021. Respondent’s admission to the Bar was conditioned upon Respondent successfully completing a two-year monitoring contract with Lawyers Helping Lawyers (LHL) due to his previous substance abuse issues, including alcohol. Respondent executed the LHL contract on July 12, 2021. Among other items, the LHL contract required Respondent to “totally refrain from the use of all moodaltering substances including alcohol.”

Respondent suffered four alcohol relapses between October 2021 and January 2022. On October 17, 2021, and October 31, 2021, Respondent consumed alcohol. On November 13, 2021, Respondent was involved in a one-vehicle car accident in Georgia in which he was the only occupant. Respondent was charged with DUI Alcohol/Less Safe, Failure to Maintain Lane, and Failure to Wear a Seat Belt. The DUI charge was reduced to reckless driving, and upon pleading guilty Respondent was sentenced to twelve months of probation.1 On January 15, 2022, Respondent was involved in another one-vehicle car accident in Georgia in which he again was the only occupant. Respondent was charged with DUI/Less Safe, Hit and Run, and Open Container of Alcohol in a Motor Vehicle. The DUI charge was again reduced to reckless driving; Respondent pled no contest and was sentenced to twelve months of probation. Respondent has complied with all probation requirements, and his probation terminated early on April 15, 2024.

He was interim suspended after notifying the Bar

Respondent remained at the Hanley Center for two months in an intensive rehabilitative program. Once discharged, Respondent immediately engaged in outpatient clinical rehabilitative services, which he continues to receive. Since being discharged from the Hanley Center in March 2022, Respondent has submitted over two thousand compliant breathalyzer tests and over forty compliant urine tests. Respondent is also very involved with Alcoholics Anonymous, including volunteering and attending over four hundred meetings since June 6, 2022. Respondent has maintained his sobriety since January 19, 2022. Respondent also executed a twoyear monitoring contract with LHL on April 15, 2022, and has been compliant since that time. On May 1, 2024, the Court granted Respondent’s motion to lift his interim suspension, and he was reinstated to the practice of law.

The court reprimanded and imposed conditions of monitering 

In light of Respondent’s significant steps taken toward achieving and maintaining sobriety, we find a public reprimand is appropriate in this matter. Accordingly, we accept the Agreement and publicly reprimand Respondent for his misconduct.

(Mike Frisch)