On Tuesday, February 14, 2023, the Supreme Court of Louisiana suspended attorney Erin L Tyer for driving under the influence of alcohol.
The case is entitled “In the Matter of Erin L Tyer” and was brought by the Office of Disciplinary Counsel with case no. 2022-B-1632.
The charges cited Lousiana Rules of Professional Conduct 8.4 and 8.4(b) which state:
Violation of the Rules of Professional Conduct.
Commission of a criminal act that reflects adversely on the lawyer’s honesty, trustworthiness, or fitness as a lawyer.
The Rules of Professional Conduct can be found here.
On November 4, 2022, Lousiana Attorney Disciplinary Board recommended to the Louisiana Supreme Court that the respondent be suspended for driving while intoxicated and with acknowledged historical use of cocaine. This came from the Respondent’s self-report of her arrest for driving while intoxicated and for resisting an officer in her attempt to assist a friend who was also placed under DWI. Moreover, the charges also alleged that Respondent admitted to using cocaine recently.
The filing states:
“The Hearing Committee concluded that Respondent violated Rules 8.4(b) in a knowing manner and recommended Respondent be suspended from the practice of law for one year, retroactive to the date of Respondent’s Interim Suspension, and the costs to be assessed against Respondent. The Hearing Committee did not recommend the requirement to apply for reinstatement due to Respondent’s voluntary admission to the use of cocaine, Respondent’s display of remorse for her actions, and the lack of prior discipline issues.
The ODC objected to the Hearing Committee’s Report as to the Committee’s sanction recommendation, asserting that the recommended sanction was too lenient. ODC argued that Respondent should be suspended for 18 months, retroactive to the date of her interim suspension.”
The filing continues:
“Prior to the hearing, the respondent and the ODC filed a joint stipulation of facts and rule violations. 1 In this document, the respondent admitted to the facts set forth in the formal charges, with limited variation, and admitted that s he violated the Rules of Professional Conduct as charged. The parties stipulated that she violated duties owed to the public; that her actions were at all times known; and that her conduct caused the potential for harm to others and actual harm to the legal profession”
Considering the facts, self-admission, and recommendation of the Hearing Committee, the court decided to suspend the respondent.
The Disposition states:
“Upon review of the fîndings and recommendations of the hearing committee and disciplinary board, and considering the record, it is ordered that Erin L. Tyrer, Louisiana Bar Roll number 37340, be and she hereby is suspended from the practice of law for a period of eighteen months, with all but one year deferred, subject to the conditions set forth herein. This suspension shall be retroactive to November 4, 2020, the date of respondent’s interim suspension.”
Ms. Erin Tyrer graduated from Tulane University in 2016. She is licensed in Louisiana. Her info can be found on Linkedin.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
