NEW ORLEANS (Louisiana Record) – Voluntarily disbarred Metairie attorney Michael Stephen Sepcich was conditionally reinstated to practice law in Louisiana following a Dec. 17 Louisiana Supreme Court decision to approve his application for readmission.
"After considering the record in its entirety, we find petitioner has met his burden of proving that he is entitled to be readmitted to the practice of law on a conditional basis," the Supreme Court said in its two-page decision. "Accordingly, we will order that petitioner be readmitted to the practice of law, subject to the condition that he comply with his (judges and lawyers assistance program) JLAP recovery agreement and that JLAP provide periodic reports to the ODC (office of disciplinary counsel)."
The Supreme Court's decision was effective immediately. The ODC did not object to Sepcich's readmission.
The high court also ordered Sepcich to pay all costs in the matter.
Sepcich was admitted to the bar in Louisiana on April 18, 1997, according to his profile at the Louisiana State Bar Association's website.
Sepcich was voluntarily placed on interim suspension in July 2010 after he admitted he submitted false billing for work he did not perform, according the decision. He then "sought help" from JLAP "to treat his alcohol abuse" and with the ODC submitted a joint petition for consent discipline, which lead to his disbarment following a May 2015 Supreme Court attorney disciplinary proceeding.
Sepcich's disbarment was made retroactive to the date of his interim suspension.
Sepcich petitioned for readmission in March. Dane S. Ciolino, Louisiana legal ethics lawyer and professor at Loyola University New Orleans College of Law, appeared on Sepcich's behalf before a Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board hearing committee in August.
In October, the hearing committee recommended that Sepcich be conditionally readmitted.
In its decision to readmit Sepcich, the Supreme Court said there would be consequences if Sepcich should fail to comply with conditions.
"Should petitioner fail to comply with this condition of readmission, his conditional right to practice may be terminated immediately, or he may be subjected to other discipline pursuant to the Rules for Lawyer Disciplinary Enforcement, as appropriate," the decision said.