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.
Disbarred
Maribeth Mae Hanson (WSBA No. 48474, admitted 2015) of Spokane, was disbarred, effective 4/24/2023, by order of the Washington Supreme Court. The lawyer’s conduct violated the following Idaho Rules of Professional Conduct: 8.4(b), 1.4(a), 8.4(c), and 1.15(d).
In relation to her representation of a client in a medical malpractice matter related to a personal injury, Hanson stipulated to disbarment for: (1) intentionally taking funds belonging to the client and/or third parties without entitlement; (2) failing to respond to the client’s reasonable requests for information and by failing to keep the client reasonably and accurately informed about the status of their matter; and (3) failing to promptly deliver funds to the client and/or third parties entitled to those funds.
Kathy Jo Blake acted as disciplinary counsel. Kevin M. Bank represented respondent. The online version of Washington State Bar News contains links to the following documents: Disciplinary Board Order Approving Stipulation; Stipulation to Disbarment; and Washington Supreme Court Order.
Richard Forrest White (WSBA No. 19531, admitted 1990) of Lake Charles, LA, was disbarred, effective 6/12/2023, by order of the Washington Supreme Court imposing reciprocal discipline in accordance with an order of the Supreme Court of the State of Louisiana. For more information, see https://www.ladb.org/handler.document.aspx?DocID=9929. Henry Cruz acted as disciplinary counsel. Richard Forrest White represented himself. The online version of Washington State Bar News contains a link to the following document: The Washington Supreme Court Order.
Suspended
Richard Llewelyn Jones (WSBA No. 12904, admitted 1982) of Ocean Shores, was suspended for 21 months, effective 6/12/2023, by order of the Washington Supreme Court. Jones’ conduct violated the following Rules of Professional Conduct: 1.7 (Conflict of Interest: Current Clients), 3.1 (Meritorious Claims and Contentions), 8.4(d) (Prejudicial to the Admin of Justice), 8.4(j) (Violate a Court Order).
In relation to his representation of clients in various bankruptcy, trust, and litigation matters, Jones stipulated to suspension for: (1) having client A and client B pay pre-petition fees and finance charges in violation of the automatic stays in their bankruptcies and the discharge order in client A’s bankruptcy; (2) representing client A after client A filed bankruptcy while simultaneously being a creditor and collecting pre-petition debt from client A; (3) collecting payments from client A and client B without the bankruptcy court’s knowledge or authority and in violation of the bankruptcy court’s orders and bankruptcy procedures; (4) concurrently representing client B’s bankruptcy estate while being a creditor in client B’s bankruptcy, and while representing client B and client B’s non-debtor wife in a land use lawsuit; (5) bringing a rescission motion in a trust matter that had no basis in law or fact that was not frivolous; (6) violating a court order regarding remote depositions in a Chelan County case; (7) filing a declaration in the Chelan County case which mischaracterized the events at the deposition.
Benjamin J. Attanasio, Erica Temple, Debra Slater, and Jonathan Burke acted as disciplinary counsel. Kurt M. Bulmer represented respondent. Randolph O. Petgrave III was the hearing officer. William S. Bailey 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.
Brice Carolyn Leahy (WSBA No. 48353, admitted 2014) of Lakewood, was suspended for three months, effective 6/12/2023, by order of the Washington Supreme Court. Leahy’s conduct violated the following Rules of Professional Conduct: 1.15A (Safeguarding Property), 1.15B (Required Trust Account Records).
In relation to the handling of his trust account, Leahy stipulated to suspension for: (1) failing to maintain complete and current check registers; (2) failing to maintain complete and current client ledgers; (3) 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; (4) failing to deposit the client settlement funds into trust; (5) depositing respondent’s own funds into trust, and by keeping earned fees in trust; (6) disbursing funds on behalf of clients who did not have funds in trust; and (7) failing to disburse funds to clients.
Francesca D’Angelo acted as disciplinary counsel. Kurt M. Bulmer represented respondent. Sidney S. Royer was the hearing officer. William J. Carlson 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
Josh Brumley (WSBA No. 49851, admitted 2015) of Kent, was reprimanded, effective 4/25/2023, by order of the hearing officer. Brumley’s conduct violated the following Rules of Professional Conduct: 3.4 (Fairness to Opposing Party and Counsel), 5.1 (Responsibilities of a Partner or Supervisory Lawyer), 5.3 (Responsibilities Regarding Nonlawyer Assistants), 5.10 (Responsibilities Regarding Other Legal Practitioners), 8.4(d) (Prejudicial to the Admin of Justice), 8.4(j) (Violate a Court Order).
In relation to the management of his law firm, Brumley stipulated to two reprimands for: (1) failing to make reasonable efforts to ensure that Brumley’s firm had in effect measures giving reasonable assurance that the conduct of non-lawyer staff was compatible with Brumley’s professional obligations, and/or by failing to make reasonable efforts to supervise an employee’s handling of a client matter to ensure that the employee’s conduct was compatible with Brumley’s professional obligations; (2) failing to make reasonable efforts to ensure that Brumley’s firm had in effect measures giving reasonable assurance that all lawyers in Brumley’s firm conformed to the RPC, and/or by failing to make reasonable efforts to ensure that an employee’s conduct conformed to the RPC; and (3) failing to pay the sanctions and attorney fees the court imposed against Brumley in a client’s matters for over a year after they were ordered, and/or by failing to pay the court ordered interest.
Henry Cruz acted as disciplinary counsel. Kevin M. Bank represented respondent. Diana M. Dearmin was the hearing officer. Eric T. Krening was the settlement hearing officer. The online version of Washington State Bar News contains links to the following documents: Order Approving Stipulation; Stipulation to Two Reprimands; Notice of Reprimand.
Leila Louisa Hale (WSBA No. 47247, admitted 2014) of Henderson, NV, was reprimanded, effective 6/05/2023, by order of the Washington Supreme Court imposing reciprocal discipline in accordance with an order of the Supreme Court of the State of Nevada. For more information, see https://www.nvbar.org/wp-content/uploads/NevadaLawyer_Aug2020_BarCounsel.pdf. Henry Cruz acted as disciplinary counsel. Leila Louisa Hale represented themselves. The online version of Washington State Bar News contains a link to the following document: The Washington Supreme Court Order.
Admonition
James Henry MaGee (WSBA No. 23434, admitted 1993) of Moses Lake, was ordered to receive an admonition, effective 4/27/2023. MaGee’s conduct violated the following Rules of Professional Conduct: 1.4 (Communication).
In relation to his representation of a client in a family law matter, MaGee stipulated to admonition for failing to timely advise the client about the client’s obligation to pay the opposing party’s attorney’s fees per court order, and failing to timely inform the client about the motion to reconsider attorney’s fees and the court’s denial of the same.
Chris Chang, Byron Greene, and Kathy Jo Blake acted as disciplinary counsel. Jeffrey T. Kestle represented respondent. Jehiel Baer was the hearing officer. Scott M. Ellerby was the settlement hearing officer. The online version of Washington State Bar News contains links to the following documents: Order Approving Stipulation to Admonition; Stipulation to Admonition; and Admonition.
Interim Suspension
Richard M. Simpson (WSBA No. 53162, admitted 2018) of Tacoma, is suspended from the practice of law in the state of Washington pending the outcome of disciplinary proceedings, effective 5/17/2023, by order of the Washington Supreme Court. This is not a disciplinary sanction.
Transfer to Disability Inactive Status
Kimberly M. Dean (WSBA No. 40709, admitted 2008) of Snohomish, was by stipulation transferred to disability inactive status, effective 5/18/2023. This is not a disciplinary action.
Casey Curran Pence (WSBA No. 52466, admitted 2017) of Bremerton, was by stipulation transferred to disability inactive status, effective 5/18/2023. This is not a disciplinary action.