On Monday, February 27, 2023, the Supreme Court of Tennessee ordered the temporary suspension of Rutherford County Attorney Andre Chase Rabideau for failure to respond to a complaint.
The case is styled ‘In Re: Andre Chase Rabideau’ with Case #M2023-00284-SC-BAR-BP.
The petition for the temporary suspension of Mr. Rabideau is pursuant to Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 9, § 12.3, which provides:
“On petition of Disciplinary Counsel and supported by an affidavit or declaration under penalty of perjury demonstrating facts personally known to affiant showing that an attorney has misappropriated funds to the attorney’s own use, has failed to respond to the Board or Disciplinary Counsel concerning a complaint of misconduct, has failed to substantially comply with a Tennessee Lawyer Assistance Program monitoring agreement requiring mandatory reporting to Disciplinary Counsel pursuant to Section 36.1, or otherwise poses a threat of substantial harm to the public, the Court may issue an order with such notice as the Court may prescribe imposing temporary conditions of probation on said attorney or temporarily suspending said attorney or both.”
The Court, based upon the petition and the supporting affidavit found that Mr. Rabideau failed to respond to the Board of Professional Responsibility concerning a complaint of misconduct.
With the foregoing facts, the court ruled against Mr. Rabideau.
The Order of Temporary Suspension reads:
“1. Andre Chase Rabidaeu is hereby temporarily suspended from the practice of law as provided in Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 9, § 12.3.
2. Andre Chase Rabideau shall comply with Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 9 in all respects and particularly as provided in Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 9, § 28, regarding the responsibilities of suspended attorneys.
3. Andre Chase Rabideau may make application for dissolution or modification of this Order as provided in Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 9, § 12.3.
4. The Board of Professional Responsibility shall cause notice of this suspension of Andre Chase Rabideau to be published as required by Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 9, § 28.11.”
Accordingly, in compliance with the Court’s Order, the Board of Professional Responsibility published the information on the temporary suspension of Mr. Rabideau on the same day, February 27, 2023.
Rabideau is immediately precluded from accepting any new case, and he must stop representing existing clients by March 29, 2023.
Prior to this suspension, Mr. Rabideau practiced in Smyrna in Rutherford county. He attended Belmont University-College of Law. Rabideu has been licensed in Tennessee. His info can be found on the Board of Professional Responsibility of the Supreme Court of Tennessee’s website.
A copy of the Order of Temporary Suspension can be found here.
