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.
Suspended
Drew D. Dalton (WSBA No. 39306, admitted 2007) of Spokane Valley, was suspended for 60 days, effective 3/28/2023, by order of the Washington Supreme Court. Dalton’s conduct violated the following Rules of Professional Conduct: 1.3 (Diligence), 1.4 (Communication), 1.5 (Fees), 1.7 (Conflict of Interest: Current Clients), 1.8 (Conflict of Interest: Current Clients: Specific Rules), 8.4(a) (Attempt, Assist or Induce).
In relation to his representation of a client in a mortgage dispute matter, Dalton stipulated to suspension for: 1) agreeing to represent the client on a contingent fee basis, without a written contingent fee agreement signed by the client, and by failing to clearly notify the client of the expenses for which they would be liable; 2) failing to communicate the bank’s settlement offer to the client in a way that allowed them to fully and completely understand the offer, and understand the advantages and disadvantages of accepting the offer, and by failing to respond promptly to the bank’s settlement offer; and 3) attempting to modify respondent’s agreement with the client without meeting the requirements of RPC 1.8(a).
Erica Temple and Kathy Jo Blake acted as disciplinary counsel. Gregor Hensrude represented Respondent. Carl J. Oreskovich was the hearing officer. Diana M. Dearmin was the settlement hearing officer. The online version of Washington State Bar News contains links to the following documents: Order Approving Stipulation to 60 Day Suspension; Stipulation to Suspension; and Washington Supreme Court Order.
Zhihua Josh Han (WSBA No. 46204, admitted 2013) of Mercer Island, was suspended for 16 months, effective 1/06/2023, by order of the Washington Supreme Court imposing reciprocal discipline in accordance with an order of the Supreme Court of the USPTO. For more information, see: https://foiadocuments.uspto.gov/oed/Han-Final-Order-(D2022-23)_Redacted.pdf. Henry Cruz acted as disciplinary counsel. Kevin M. Bank represented respondent. The online version of Washington State Bar News contains a link to the following document: The Washington Supreme Court Order.
Ward M. Merdes (WSBA No. 20375, admitted 1991) of Fairbanks, AK, was suspended for four years, effective 3/09/2023, by order of the Washington Supreme Court imposing reciprocal discipline in accordance with an order of the Supreme Court of the state of Alaska. For more information, see https://member.alaskabar.org/cvweb/cgi-bin/memberdll.dll/Info?WRP=Customer_
Profile.htm&CUSTOMERCD=3997. Henry Cruz acted as disciplinary counsel. Ward M. Merdes represented himself. The online version of Washington State Bar News contains a link to the following document: The Washington Supreme Court Order.
Merwin Moe Spencer (WSBA No. 40963, admitted 2008) of Everett, was suspended for three years, effective 4/21/2023, by order of the Washington Supreme Court. Spencer’s conduct violated the following Rules of Professional Conduct: 1.3 (Diligence), 1.4 (Communication), 1.5 (Fees), 1.16 (Declining or Terminating Representation), 3.2 (Expediting Litigation), 3.4 (Fairness to Opposing Party and Counsel), 5.3 (Responsibilities Regarding Nonlawyer Assistants), 5.5 (Unauthorized Practice of Law; Multijurisdictional Practice of Law), 5.8 (Misconduct Involving Disbarred, Suspended, Resigned, and Inactive Lawyers), 8.1 (Bar Admission and Disciplinary Matters), 8.4(c) (Dishonesty, Fraud, Deceit or Misrepresentation), 8.4(d) (Prejudicial to the Admin of Justice), 8.4(i) (Moral Turpitude, Corruption or Disregard of Rule of Law).
In relation to his handling of his trust account and representation of client B in a personal injury matter, the Hearing Officer recommended, and the Supreme Court ordered, that Spencer be suspended following a default hearing. Spencer was found to have violated the Rules of Professional Conduct by: 1) failing to deposit client A’s advance fees into respondent’s trust account; 2) charging client A an unreasonable fee and failing to refund unearned fees at the end of the representation; 3) practicing law with a suspended license; 4) failing to respond to the grievance; 5) failing to prosecute client B’s lawsuit diligently, failing to respond to opposing counsel’s motions, and failing to appear for properly scheduled court dates; 6) failing to keep client B reasonably informed about the status of client B’s case and by failing to promptly comply with client B’s reasonable requests for information; 7) failing to provide information in response to the opposing party’s discovery requests and failing to make efforts to have client B appear at a properly scheduled deposition; 8) making one or more misrepresentations to client B; 9) failing to surrender client B’s client file to client or client’s new lawyer upon termination of representation; 10) failing to respond to the grievance; and 11) failing to produce records and/or attend the deposition.
Kathy Jo Blake acted as disciplinary counsel. Merwin Moe Spencer represented himself. William J. Carlson 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 Washington Supreme Court Order.
Reprimanded
Jaye Lynn Schneider (WSBA No. 13515, admitted 1983) of Kirkland, was reprimanded, effective 1/26/2023, by order of the chief hearing officer. Schneider’s conduct violated the following Rules of Professional Conduct: 1.15A (Safeguarding Property), 1.15B (Required Trust Account Records).
In relation to respondent’s business law practice and handling of respondent’s trust account, respondent stipulated to reprimand for: 1) failing to maintain complete and contemporaneous trust account records; 2) failing to reconcile respondent’s IOLTA account check register to the bank statements and by failing to reconcile the check register to the client ledgers on a monthly basis; 3) failing to remove funds belonging to respondent from the trust account; and 4) failing to promptly pay or deliver to clients or third persons the funds that they were entitled to receive.
Francesca D’Angelo acted as disciplinary counsel. Anne I. Seidel represented respondent. The online version of Washington State Bar News contains links to the following documents: Order on Stipulation to Reprimand; Stipulation to Reprimand; and Notice of Reprimand.
Interim Suspension
Dominique Louise Eng Jinhong (WSBA No. 28293, admitted 1998) of Gig Harbor, is suspended from the practice of law in the state of Washington pending the outcome of disciplinary proceedings, effective 4/13/2023, by order of the Washington Supreme Court. This is not a disciplinary sanction.
Myles Julian Johnson (WSBA No. 47642, admitted 2014) of Tukwila, is suspended from the practice of law in the state of Washington pending the outcome of disciplinary proceedings, effective 3/14/2023, by order of the Washington Supreme Court. This is not a disciplinary sanction.
Notice of Hearing on Petition For Reinstatement of Jeffrey Flint Renshaw
A petition for reinstatement after disbarment has been filed by Jeffrey Flint Renshaw (WSBA No. 31124), who was admitted in 2001 and disbarred in 2013. A hearing on Renshaw’s petition will be conducted before the Character and Fitness Board on Friday, June 23, 2023. 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 Lisa Amatangel, Counsel to the Character and Fitness Board, Washington State Bar Association, at lisaa@wsba.org. This notice is published pursuant to APR 25.4(a).