THESE NOTICES OF THE IMPOSITION OF DISCIPLINARY SANCTIONS AND ACTIONS are published pursuant to Rule 3.5(c) of the Washington Supreme Court Rules for Enforcement of Lawyer Conduct. Active links to directory listings, RPC definitions, and documents related to the disciplinary matter can be found at the links below or by looking up the respondent in the legal directory on the WSBA website (www.wsba.org) and then scrolling down to “Discipline History.”
As some WSBA members share the same or similar names, please read all disciplinary notices carefully for names, cities, and bar numbers.
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Resigned in Lieu of Discipline
David A. Jakeman (WSBA No. 39332, admitted 2007) of Kennewick, resigned in lieu of discipline, effective 4/23/2021. Jakeman agrees that he is aware of the alleged misconduct in disciplinary counsel’s Statement of Alleged Misconduct and rather than defend against the allegations, wishes to permanently resign from membership in the Association. The Statement of Alleged Misconduct reflects the following violations of the Rules of Professional Conduct: 1.3 (Diligence), 1.4 (Communication), 1.5 (Fees), 1.16 (Declining or Terminating Representation).
Jakeman’s alleged misconduct, as stated in disciplinary counsel’s Statement of Alleged Misconduct, related to immigration law practice. Jakeman’s alleged misconduct includes: 1) abruptly closing his law practice, disconnecting the telephones and emails, failing to provide clients or the public with his current contact information, failing to deliver property to clients, failing to promptly inform clients of deadlines and hearings in their matters, failing to protect client interest in their matters, and failing to respond to client communications, thus abandoning the practice of law without providing for his clients’ needs, and 2) collecting and retaining legal fees from multiple clients, for work never performed.
Henry Cruz acted as disciplinary counsel. David A. Jakeman represented himself. The online version of Washington State Bar News contains a link to the following document: Resignation Form of David A. Jakeman (ELC 9.3(b)).
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Grover Matthew Loftin (WSBA No. 44942, admitted 2012) of Seattle, resigned in lieu of discipline, effective 4/23/2021. Loftin agrees that he is aware of the alleged misconduct in disciplinary counsel’s Statement of Alleged Misconduct and rather than defend against the allegations, wishes to permanently resign from membership in the Association. The Statement of Alleged Misconduct reflects the following violations of the Rules of Professional Conduct: 1.4 (Communication), 1.5 (Fees), 7.1 (Communications Concerning a Lawyer’s Services), 8.4(c) (Dishonesty, Fraud, Deceit or Misrepresentation).
Loftin’s alleged misconduct, as stated in disciplinary counsel’s Statement of Alleged Misconduct, related to his law practice primarily in the areas of estate planning and estate administration while employed at a law firm. Loftin’s alleged misconduct includes: 1) falsely communicating to clients about the services performed and hours billed and by recording a false date on which the work was completed in client invoices, 2) charging a fee for work not performed, and 3) logging hours in his employer’s time management system for time not actually spent, and by making it appear in the time management system, and in his own laptop, that documents had been drafted when they had not.
Henry Cruz acted as disciplinary counsel. Grover Matthew Loftin represented himself. The online version of Washington State Bar News contains a link to the following document: Resignation Form of Grover Matthew Loftin (ELC 9.3(b)).
Reprimanded
Brooks Richard Siegel (WSBA No. 50766, admitted 2016) of North Miami Beach, FL, was reprimanded, effective 4/06/2021, by order of the Washington Supreme Court imposing reciprocal discipline in accordance with an order of the Supreme Court of the State of Arizona. For more information, see https://azbar.legalserviceslink.com/attorneys-view/BrooksRichardSiegel. Henry Cruz acted as disciplinary counsel. Brooks Richard Siegel represented himself. The online version of Washington State Bar News contains a link to the following document: The Washington Supreme Court Order.
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Al M. Treacy (WSBA No. 36602, admitted 2005) of Marysville, was reprimanded, effective 5/05/2021, by order of the Chief Hearing Officer. The lawyer’s conduct violated the following Rules of Professional Conduct: 1.7 (Conflict of Interest: Current Clients), 1.8 (Conflict of Interest: Current Clients: Specific Rules).
In relation to his work as a prosecutor for the City of Marysville, Treacy stipulated to a reprimand for engaging in an intimate relationship with a public defender who was representing parties adverse to the city of Marysville.
Joanne S. Abelson acted as disciplinary counsel. Al M. Treacy represented himself. The online version of Washington State Bar News contains links to the following documents: Order Approving Stipulation to Reprimand; Stipulation to Reprimand; and Notice of Reprimand.
Notice of Hearing on Petition for Reinstatement of Paul Eugene Simmerly
A petition for reinstatement after disbarment has been filed by Paul Eugene Simmerly (WSBA No. 10719), who was admitted in 1980 and disbarred in 2012. A hearing on Simmerly’s petition will be conducted before the Character and Fitness Board on Friday, September 24, 2021. Anyone wishing to do so may file with the Character and Fitness Board a written statement for or against reinstatement, setting forth factual matters showing that the petition does or does not meet the requirements of Washington State Supreme Court Admission and Practice Rule (APR) 25.5(a). Except by the Character and Fitness Board’s leave, no person other than the petitioner or petitioner’s counsel shall be heard orally by the Board.
Communications to the Character and Fitness Board should be sent to Renata de Carvalho Garcia, Counsel to the Character and Fitness Board, Washington State Bar Association, 1325 Fourth Ave., Ste. 600, Seattle, WA 98101-2539, or to renatag@wsba.org. This notice is published pursuant to APR 25.4(a).