
    IN RE: Erich Webb BAILEY
    NO. 2017-B-1693
    Supreme Court of Louisiana.
    12/15/2017
   ATTORNEY DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDING

PER CURIAM

h Pursuant to Supreme Court Rule XIX, § 21, the Office of Disciplinary Counsel (“ODC”) has filed a petition seeking the imposition of reciprocal discipline against respondent, Erich Webb Bailey, an attorney licensed to practice law in the States of Louisiana and Tennessee, based upon an interim suspension imposed by the Supreme Court óf Tennessee.

UNDERLYING FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

On July 17, 2017, the Supreme Court of Tennessee issued an order immediately suspending respondent’s license to practice law for failure to comply with the court’s order of June 28, 2017 directing respondent to contact the Tennessee Lawyers Assistance Program (“TLAP”) for an evaluation to determine his capacity to practice law or to defend himself in disciplinary proceedings.

After receiving notice of the order of temporary suspension, the ODC filed a motion to initiate reciprocal discipline proceedings in Louisiana, pursuant to Supreme Court Rule XIX, § 21. A certified copy of the decision and order of the Supreme Court of Tennessee was attached to the motion. On October 10, 2017, this court rendered an order giving respondent thirty days to demonstrate why the imposition of identical discipline in this state would be unwarranted. Respondent failed to file any response in this court.

^DISCUSSION

Following his failure to comply with a court order directing him to contact TLAP for an evaluation, the Supreme Court of Tennessee suspended respondent from the practice of law in that state pending further proceedings. The imposition of identical discipline in Louisiana is clearly appropriate, and there is no suggestion otherwise upon the face of the record. Accordingly, we will place respondent on interim suspension.

DECREE

Considering the Petition to Initiate Reciprocal Discipline Proceedings filed by the Office of Disciplinary Counsel and the record filed herein, it is ordered that respondent, Erich Webb Bailey, Louisiana Bar Roll number 32822, be and he hereby is suspended from the practice of law on an interim basis, pending further orders of this court.  