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.
Disbarred
Eric Cameron Hoort (WSBA No. 29360, admitted 1999) of Everett, was disbarred, effective 8/17/2021, by order of the Washington Supreme Court. Hoort’s conduct violated the following Rules of Professional Conduct: 8.4(c) (Dishonesty, Fraud, Deceit or Misrepresentation), 8.4(i) (Moral Turpitude, Corruption or Disregard of Rule of Law), 8.4(j) (Violate a Court Order).
In relation to his conduct involving violation of a domestic violence protection order, and to his submission of a request to voluntarily resign his license to practice law, the Hearing Officer recommended, and the Supreme Court ordered, that Hoort be disbarred following a default hearing. Hoort was found to have violated the Rules of Professional Conduct by: 1) contacting person A in violation of a temporary order for protection; and 2) falsely certifying that no disciplinary investigation was pending against him at the time he executed a request to voluntarily resign his license to practice law.
Benjamin J. Attanasio acted as disciplinary counsel. Eric Cameron Hoort represented himself. Janice Sue Wang was the hearing officer. The online version of Washington State Bar News contains links to the following documents: Hearing Officer’s Decision; Disciplinary Board Order Declining Sua Sponte Review and Adopting Hearing Officer’s Decision; and Washington Supreme Court Order.
Resigned in Lieu of Discipline
Mara A. Snyder (WSBA No. 43474, admitted 2011) of Bellingham, resigned in lieu of discipline, effective 8/24/2021. Snyder agrees that she 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), 1.15A (Safeguarding Property), 1.16 (Declining or Terminating Representation), 8.4(b) (Criminal Act), 8.4(c) (Dishonesty, Fraud, Deceit or Misrepresentation).
Snyder’s alleged misconduct, as stated in disciplinary counsel’s Statement of Alleged Misconduct, related to abandoning her family law practice. Snyder’s alleged misconduct includes: 1) closing her law practice without notice to clients, failing to provide a way for clients to obtain information about their legal matters, failing to deliver client files or property to them, and/or failing to appear at mediations, meetings, and/or court proceedings, thus abandoning the practice of law without providing for her clients’ needs; 2) taking funds belonging to clients and third parties from trust without entitlement, and 3) failing to refund fees that clients paid in advance that had not been earned, and/or retaining fees for work that was of no benefit to the clients.
Joanne S. Abelson acted as disciplinary counsel. Mara A. Snyder represented herself. Nadine Darlene Scott was the hearing officer. The online version of Washington State Bar News contains a link to the following document: Resignation Form of Mara A. Snyder (ELC 9.3(b)).
Suspended
Paul John Novack (WSBA No. 13880, admitted 1983) of Everett, was suspended for nine months, effective 8/11/2021, by order of the Washington Supreme Court. Novack’s conduct violated the following Rules of Professional Conduct: 1.15A (Safeguarding Property), 1.15B (Required Trust Account Records), 5.3 (Responsibilities Regarding Nonlawyer Assistants).
In relation to his handling of the trust account for his personal injury law practice, Novack stipulated to suspension for: 1) failing to supervise his non-lawyer assistant’s management of his trust account and/or by failing to make reasonable efforts to ensure that his firm had in effect measures giving reasonable assurance that his assistant’s conduct was compatible with his professional obligations; 2) failing to keep individual client ledgers and a current and accurate check register; and 3) failing to reconcile the check register balance to the combined total of all client ledgers.
Kathy Jo Blake and Sachia Stonefeld Powell acted as disciplinary counsel. Leland G. Ripley represented Respondent. The online version of Washington State Bar News contains links to the following documents: Disciplinary Board Order Approving Stipulation to Suspension; Stipulation to Suspension; and Washington Supreme Court Order.
Queta Romero (WSBA No. 38986, admitted 2007) of Bellevue, was suspended for 30 days, effective 8/17/2021, by order of the Washington Supreme Court. Romero’s conduct violated the following Rules of Professional Conduct: 1.3 (Diligence), 1.4 (Communication), 1.16 (Declining or Terminating Representation).
In relation to her handling of a client’s immigration matter, Romero stipulated to suspension for: 1) failing to timely file client’s I-485 application; 2) failing to communicate with client regarding the status of the case, failing to inform client that Romero had not timely filed the I-485 application, and failing to promptly inform client that the I-485 application had been denied; and 3) failing to promptly provide client’s file to client’s new counsel upon termination of the representation.
Debra Slater and Henry Cruz acted as disciplinary counsel. Anne I. Seidel represented Respondent. Scott Martin Ellerby was the hearing officer. Edward F. Shea Jr. was the settlement hearing officer. The online version of Washington State Bar News contains links to the following documents: Disciplinary Board Order Approving Stipulation; Stipulation to Suspension; and Washington Supreme Court Order.
Reprimanded
George Paul Trejo Jr. (WSBA No. 19758, admitted 1990) of Yakima, was reprimanded, effective 8/16/2021, by order of the hearing officer. Trejo’s conduct violated the following Rules of Professional Conduct: 1.6 (Confidentiality of Information), 1.9 (Duties to Former Clients).
In relation to his representation of a client in a criminal law matter and his subsequent handling of an ineffective assistance of counsel claim, Trejo stipulated to a reprimand for disclosing information relating to the representation of his client without the client’s informed consent.
Henry Cruz and Sachia Stonefeld Powell acted as disciplinary counsel. George Paul Trejo Jr. represented himself. Edward F. Shea Jr. was the hearing officer. Randolph O. Petgraave III was the settlement hearing officer. 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.