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SUPREME COURT OF LOUISIANA NO. 00-B-0102 IN RE: EDWARD M. NICHOLS, JR.

ATTORNEY DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS PER CURIAM*
This disciplinary matter arises from a petition for consent discipline filed jointly by respondent, Edward M. Nichols, Jr., and the Office of Disciplinary Counsel ("ODC") following the institution of formal charges.

UNDERLYING FACTS Cathy Miller Benoit retained respondent in May 1996 to represent her in connection with a contractual dispute and a related redhibition claim. Although respondent timely filed suit on Ms. Benoit's behalf, he failed to make a request for arbitration, which was apparently required under the contract. This omission led to the dismissal of Ms. Benoit's contractual claim in March 1998. Thereafter, respondent failed to take any action to move Ms. Benoit's other matters forward and failed to keep her reasonably informed about the status of her legal matters.

DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS Formal Charges After investigation, the ODC filed one count of formal charges against respondent, alleging he violated Rules 1.1(a) (failure to provide competent

*

Kimball, J., not on panel. Rule IV, Part II,

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