On Friday, November 4, 2022, the Louisiana Attorney Discipline Board recommended to the Louisiana Supreme Court that former Conifer attorney Erin L. Tyrer be suspended for 18 months, retroactive to the effective date of her interim suspension for driving while intoxicated arrest and acknowledged historical use of cocaine.

The case, titled In Re: Erin L. Tyrer was brought by the Office of Disciplinary Counsel. Case #20-DB-028.

The charges cited violation of the Louisiana Rules of Professional Conduct: Rules 8.4(a) (violate or attempt to violate the Rules of Professional Conduct) and 8.4(b) (commit a criminal act, especially one that reflects adversely on the lawyer’s honesty, trustworthiness r fitness as a lawyer in other respects).

The rules of professional conduct can be found here.

The Formal Charges alleged Respondent of having been the subject of an investigation by the Office of Disciplinary Counsel stemming from Respondent’s self-report of her June 13, 2019 arrest for Driving While Intoxicated and resisting an officer in her attempt to assist a friend who was placed under arrest for DWI. The charges also alleged that Respondent in one of her counseling sessions suggested by Judges and Lawyers Program (JLP),  admitted to using cocaine recently and historically. Respondent was interimly suspended on November 4, 2020.

The filing states that:

“Prior to the hearing in this matter, the parties filed the Joint Stipulations on June 16, 2021. Respondent stipulated to the facts alleged in the Formal Charges with limited variation and stipulated to the violation of Rules 8.4(a) and 8.4(b). The parties also stipulated that Respondent violated duties owed to the public; that her actions were at all times knowing; and that her conduct caused potential harm to others in operating a motor vehicle while impaired and actual harm to the profession by engaging in improper conduct of the nature committed here. The parties further stipulated to the aggravating and mitigating factors present.”

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 Respondent, on the other hand, supported the Committee’s recommendation.

With the foregoing facts and discussions, the Disciplinary Review Board concluded that Respondent violated Rules 8.4(a) and 8.4(b) and recommends to the Louisiana Supreme Court that respondent be suspended from the practice of law for 18 months, retroactive to the effective date of her interim suspension, with all but one year deferred with conditions.

The Board also recommended that all costs and expenses of the proceedings be assessed to Respondent.

Ms. Erin Tyrer has been licensed in Louisiana. She graduated from Tulane University in 2016. Her info can be found on LinkedIn.

A copy of the original filing can be found here.