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.
Find prior Discipline & Other Regulatory Notices here.
. . .
Resigned in Lieu of Discipline
Patrick James Leahy (WSBA No. 10912, admitted 1980) of Port Orchard, resigned in lieu of discipline, effective 7/05/2022. Leahy 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: 1.15A (Safeguarding Property), 1.15B (Required Trust Account Records).
Leahy’s misconduct, as stated in disciplinary counsel’s Statement of Alleged Misconduct, related to his handling of his trust account. Leahy’s alleged misconduct includes: 1) failing to maintain complete and/or current check registers; 2) failing to maintain complete and/or current client ledgers; 3) failing to reconcile Respondent’s account check register to the client ledgers; 4) failing to deposit client funds into an interest-bearing trust account that remitted interest monthly to the Legal Foundation of Washington in accordance with ELC 15.7(a); 5) authorizing a non-lawyer as a signatory on the trust account; and 6) disbursing funds on behalf of clients who did not have funds in trust, and by disbursing one client’s funds on behalf of another.
Francesca D’Angelo acted as disciplinary counsel. Leland G. Ripley represented Respondent. The online version of Washington State Bar News contains a link to the following document: Resignation Form of Patrick James Leahy (ELC 9.3(b)).
Terry L. Williams (WSBA No. 21831, admitted 1992) of Colville, resigned in lieu of discipline, effective 7/18/2022. Williams 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: 3.4 (Fairness to Opposing Party and Counsel), 8.4(b) (Criminal Act), 8.4(d) (Prejudicial to the Admin of Justice), 8.4(i) (Moral Turpitude, Corruption or Disregard of Rule of Law).
Williams’s misconduct, as stated in disciplinary counsel’s Statement of Alleged Misconduct, related to his conduct during the representation of a client in a civil case while the client had a concurrent criminal case. William’s alleged misconduct involves attempting to induce a witness to withhold testimony in a criminal case and by committing the crime of Attempted Tampering with a Witness.
Francisco Rodriguez acted as disciplinary counsel. Robert R. Cossey represented Respondent. The online version of Washington State Bar News contains a link to the following document: Resignation Form of Terry L. Williams (ELC 9.3(b)).
Suspended
Brian L. Berkenmeier (WSBA No. 20421, admitted 1991) of Longview, was suspended for three months, effective 5/17/2022, by order of the Washington Supreme Court. Berkenmeier’s conduct violated the following Rules of Professional Conduct: 1.8 (Conflict of Interest: Current Clients: Specific Rules).
In relation to his conduct with Client A, Berkenmeier stipulated to suspension for having sexual relations with Client A, a current client with whom Berkenmeier did not have a preexisting consensual sexual relationship.
Amanda Lee acted as disciplinary counsel. Brian L. Berkenmeier represented himself. 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.
Interim Suspension
Ray Garland Deonier (WSBA No. 33609, admitted 2003) of Seattle, is suspended from the practice of law in the state of Washington pending the outcome of disciplinary proceedings, effective 5/20/2022, by order of the Washington Supreme Court. This is not a disciplinary sanction.
Transfer to Disability Inactive Status
Douglas Lowell Davies (WSBA No. 16750, admitted 1987) of Bainbridge Island, was by stipulation transferred to disability inactive status, effective 7/14/2022. This is not a disciplinary action.
Rodney Giovanni Pierce (WSBA No. 5317, admitted 1973) of Seattle, was by stipulation transferred to disability inactive status, effective 4/18/2022. This is not a disciplinary action.