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
Jacob D. Lipscomb (WSBA No. 42977, admitted 2010) of Renton, resigned in lieu of discipline, effective 7/31/2023. Lipscomb 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).
Lipscomb’s alleged conduct, as stated in disciplinary counsel’s Statement of Alleged Misconduct, related to his handling of his trust account. Lipscomb’s alleged misconduct includes: 1) failing to promptly pay or deliver funds to a third-party that it was entitled to receive; 2) using and converting client and third party funds for his own use; 3) failing to maintain client funds in a trust account; 4) using one client’s funds on behalf of another; 5) disbursing funds from the trust account in excess of the amounts clients had on deposit; 6) failing to promptly pay and deliver funds to clients and third parties that they were entitled to receive; 7) failing to maintain a complete and current check register and client ledgers; and 8) failing to reconcile a trust account check register to the bank statements and by failing to reconcile a trust account check register to a total of client ledgers.
Marsha Matsumoto and Kathy Jo Blake acted as disciplinary counsel. Kenneth Scott Kagan represented Respondent. The online version of Washington State Bar News contains a link to the following document: Resignation Form of Jacob D. Lipscomb (ELC 9.3(b)).
Arthur Colby Parks (WSBA No. 22508, admitted 1993) of Tacoma, resigned in lieu of discipline, effective 06/27/2023. Parks 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. Per his resignation form, Parks vehemently denies the allegations but is resigning to avoid having to litigate the issues. The Statement of Alleged Misconduct reflects the following violations of the Rules of Professional Conduct: 1.4 (Communication), 1.5 (Fees), 1.8 (Conflict of Interest: Current Clients: Specific Rules), 1.15A (Safeguarding Property), 1.15B (Required Trust Account Records), 8.4(b) (Criminal Act), 8.4(c) (Dishonesty, Fraud, Deceit or Misrepresentation), 8.4(i) (Moral Turpitude, Corruption or Disregard of Rule of Law).
Parks’ alleged conduct, as stated in disciplinary counsel’s Statement of Alleged Misconduct, related to his representation of two clients’ unrelated trust and estate matters. Parks’ alleged misconduct includes: 1) converting client A’s funds to his own use without being entitled to those funds; 2) charging client A fees at lawyer rates for work that could have been performed by a non-lawyer; 3) renegotiating a fee agreement with client B without obtaining client B’s informed consent in writing, without advising client B of the desirability of seeking advice from an independent lawyer, and on terms that were not fair and reasonable to client B; 4) removing funds belonging to client B and/or the estate from Parks’ IOLTA account without being entitled to collect those funds and converting the funds to Parks’ own use; 5) failing to provide client B with written notice before withdrawing funds from the IOLTA account; 6) failing to adequately communicate the basis and/or rate of the fee for which client B was responsible and failing to communicate to client B the basis for fees charged during the representation; 7) failing to promptly provide a written accounting to client B despite written requests for such an accounting; 8) failing to maintain a checkbook register or equivalent for Parks’ client trust account; and 9) failing to maintain a client trust ledger for client B that listed all receipts, disbursements, and transfers, along with the purpose for which funds were received or disbursed, the payee for each transaction, and the new client fund balance after each transaction.
Francisco Rodriguez acted as disciplinary counsel. Anne I. Seidel represented respondent. The online version of Washington State Bar News contains a link to the following document: Resignation Form of Arthur Colby Parks (ELC 9.3(b)).
John C. Peick (WSBA No. 6249, admitted 1975) of Issaquah, resigned in lieu of discipline, effective 6/26/2023. Peick 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), 8.1 (Bar Admission and Disciplinary Matters), 8.4(l) ELC violation.
Peick’s alleged conduct, as stated in disciplinary counsel’s Statement of Alleged Misconduct, related to his representation of a client in a personal injury matter, his representation of a client in defending a potential malpractice claim, and his non-cooperation with the grievance investigation. Peick’s alleged misconduct includes: 1) failing to promptly comply with client A’s reasonable requests for information, and/or by failing to keep client A reasonably informed about the status of the matter; 2) failing to take reasonable steps to resolve the reimbursement claim with client A’s insurer; 3) failing to promptly deliver funds to client A and/or client A’s insurer, to which they were entitled; 4) failing to timely disburse Peick’s earned fees and/or by retaining funds belonging to Peick in Peick’s trust account; 5) failing to promptly respond to disciplinary counsel’s request for information and records; 6) failing to keep client B reasonably informed about the status of the lawsuit and/or by failing to promptly comply with client B’s reasonable requests for information; 7) withdrawing $230 of client B’s funds from Peick’s trust account without providing client B notice in writing before the withdrawal; 8) failing to provide a written accounting to client B after withdrawing $230 from Peick’s trust account; 9) failing to give reasonable notice to client B prior to Peick’s withdrawal from the lawsuit and/or by failing to refund any unearned portion of the $2,500 advanced fee.
Chris Chang acted as disciplinary counsel. William Gregory Lockwood represented respondent. The online version of Washington State Bar News contains a link to the following document: Resignation Form of John C. Peick (ELC 9.3(b)).
Suspended
Stephen W. Pidgeon (WSBA No. 25265, admitted 1995) of Everett, was suspended for one year, effective 8/21/2023, by order of the Washington Supreme Court. Pidgeon’s conduct violated the following Rules of Professional Conduct: 3.1 (Meritorious Claims and Contentions), 8.4(d) (Prejudicial to the Admin of Justice).
In relation to his filing of complaints during his representation of the Culp for Governor campaign in a gubernatorial election matter, the hearing officer recommended, and the Supreme Court ordered, that Pidgeon be suspended following a default hearing. Pidgeon was found to have violated the Rules of Professional Conduct by bringing a proceeding and/or by asserting one or more claims that had no basis in law and fact that was not frivolous.
Benjamin J. Attanasio acted as disciplinary counsel. Stephen W. Pidgeon represented himself. Randolph O. Petgrave III was the hearing officer. The online version of Washington State Bar News contains links to the following documents: Hearing Officer’s Recommendation; Disciplinary Board Order Declining Sua Sponte Review and Adopting Hearing Officer’s Recommendation; and Washington Supreme Court Order.
Reprimanded
Russell Harold Gilbert (WSBA No. 24968, admitted 1995) of Yakima, was reprimanded, effective 7/11/2023, by order of the chief hearing officer. Gilbert’s conduct violated the following Rules of Professional Conduct: 3.3 (Candor Toward the Tribunal), 8.4(c) (Dishonesty, Fraud, Deceit or Misrepresentation), 8.4(d) (Prejudicial to the Admin of Justice).
In relation to his handling of a residential unlawful detainer action before the Yakima County Superior Court, Gilbert stipulated to reprimand for making a false statement to the court.
Erica Temple acted as disciplinary counsel. Todd Maybrown represented respondent. The online version of Washington State Bar News contains links to the following documents: Order Approving Stipulation to Reprimand; Stipulation to Reprimand; Notice of Reprimand.
Elliott Yug (WSBA No. 25254, admitted 1995) of Longview, was reprimanded, effective 6/29/2023, and was suspended for a period of six months and one day, to be stayed for two years subject to probationary conditions, effective 12/8/2010, 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://nvbar.org/wp-content/uploads/Yug-
Elliott-Letter-of-Reprimand-2022.10.07.pdf. Henry Cruz acted as disciplinary counsel. Elliott Yug represented himself. The online version of Washington State Bar News contains a link to the following document: The Washington Supreme Court Order.
Interim Suspension
John A. Bardelli (WSBA No. 5498, admitted 1974) of Liberty Lake, is suspended from the practice of law in the State of Washington pending the outcome of supplemental proceedings, effective 7/31/2023, by order of the Washington Supreme Court. This is not a disciplinary sanction.