Opinion
Appellate Case Nos. 2020-001438 2020-001533
08-04-2021
In the MATTER OF Gregory Payne SLOAN, Petitioner.
ORDER
By opinion dated January 22, 2020, this Court suspended Petitioner from the practice of law for three years, retroactive to the date of his interim suspension on January 13, 2017. In re Sloan , 429 S.C. 124, 838 S.E.2d 499 (2020). Petitioner had previously been administratively suspended for failing meet continuing legal education requirements. In re Admin. Suspensions for Failure to Comply with Continuing Legal Educ. Requirements , S.C. Sup. Ct. Order dated May 13, 2019. Petitioner filed two petitions for reinstatement, one pursuant to Rule 33, RLDE, Rule 413, SCACR, and the other pursuant to Rule 419, SCACR. After referral to the Committee on Character and Fitness (Committee), the Committee has filed a Report and Recommendation recommending the Court reinstate Petitioner to the practice of law.
In re Sloan , 419 S.C. 42, 795 S.E.2d 856 (2017) (placing Petitioner on interim suspension).
We find Petitioner has met the requirements of Rule 33(f), RLDE, and Rule 419(e), SCACR. Therefore, we grant the petitions for reinstatement conditioned upon Petitioner entering into a two-year monitoring agreement with Lawyers Helping Lawyers that includes the filing of quarterly compliance reports with the Commission on Lawyer Conduct.
In his testimony before the Committee, Petitioner agreed to assist the Office of Disciplinary Counsel, the South Carolina Bar, Lawyers Helping Lawyers, and others by sharing his experience in connection with substance abuse and mental health continuing legal education programs. The quarterly reports filed with the Commission on Lawyer Conduct shall include information on what efforts Petitioner has undertaken to assist these organizations with substance abuse and mental health education.
s/ Donald W. Beatty, C.J.
s/ John W. Kittredge, J.
s/ Kaye G. Hearn, J.
s/ John Cannon Few, J.
s/ George C. James, Jr., J.