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 Discipline Notice Directory at https://mywsba.org/PersonifyEbusiness/DisciplineNoticeDirectory.
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
Marc A Eckardt (WSBA No. 30690, admitted 2000) of Vancouver, B.C., was disbarred, effective 3/8/2024, by order of the Washington Supreme Court imposing reciprocal discipline in accordance with an order of the Hearing Division of the Law Society of British Columbia Tribunal. For more information, see https://www.lsbc
tribunal.ca/hearing-documents/scheirer-(eckardt),-marc-andre/. Henry Cruz acted as disciplinary counsel. Marc A Eckardt represented themselves.
Decision document: The Washington Supreme Court Order.
Frank Benjamin Inglis (WSBA No. 7080, admitted 1976) of Sequim, WA, was disbarred, effective 12/2/2024, by order of the Washington Supreme Court imposing reciprocal discipline in accordance with an order of the Supreme Court of the State of California. For more information, see https://apps.calbar.ca.gov/attorney/Licensee/Detail/66282. Henry Cruz acted as disciplinary counsel. Frank Benjamin Inglis represented themselves.
Decision document: The Washington Supreme Court Order.
Resigned in Lieu of Discipline
Charles Wade Peach (WSBA No. 13744, admitted 1983) of Bainbridge Island, resigned in lieu of discipline, effective 11/21/2024. The lawyer agrees that they are aware of the alleged misconduct in disciplinary counsel’s Statement of Alleged Misconduct and rather than defend against the allegations, they wish to permanently resign from membership in the Association. Sachia Stonefeld Powell acted as disciplinary counsel. Charles Wade Peach represented themselves.
The Statement of Alleged Misconduct reflects the following violations of the Rules of Professional Conduct: 1.7 (Conflict of Interest: Current Clients), 1.8 (Conflict of Interest: Current Clients: Specific Rules), 1.9 (Duties to Former Clients), 1.18 (Duties to Prospective Client), 8.4(a) (Attempt, Assist or Induce), 8.4(d) (Prejudicial to the Administration of Justice).
Peach’s alleged misconduct includes: (1) sending W. (a client) sexually motivated text messages and pressuring the client to have sex with respondent, (2) attempting to have sexual relations with W., (3) discussing a dissolution matter with A.V., and previously representing A.V. in the dissolution matter, and then representing C.P. in the same dissolution matter against A.V. without A.V.’s consent, and (4) sending sexually suggestive texts to C.P. and A.V.
Decision document: Resignation Form of Charles Wade Peach (ELC 9.3(b)).
Suspended
Ivan Culbertson (WSBA No. 30462, admitted 2000) of Vancouver, was suspended for 30 days, effective 12/26/2024, by order of the Washington Supreme Court. Henry Cruz acted as disciplinary counsel. Pamela Jo DeVet represented the respondent. Henry E. Farber was the hearing officer. Timothy J. O’Connell was the settlement hearing officer.
The lawyer’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), 8.1 (Bar Admission and Disciplinary Matters), and 8.4(d) (Prejudicial to the Administration of Justice, 8.4(l) (ELC Violation).
Culbertson stipulated to suspension for: (1) failing to perform the agreed-upon work in two divorce matters and unreasonably delaying both matters; (2) failing to promptly comply with reasonable requests for information and failing to communicate
with the clients regarding the status of the divorce matters; (3) failing to promptly refund unearned fees after the termination of representation; (4) failing to timely respond to ODC’s multiple requests for information.
Decision documents: Disciplinary Board Order Approving Stipulation to Suspension; Stipulation to Suspension; and Washington Supreme Court Order.
Richard Charles Greiner (WSBA No. 13230, admitted 1983) of Yakima, was suspended for three years, effective 12/23/2024, by order of the Washington Supreme Court. Nate Blanchard acted as disciplinary counsel. Richard Charles Greiner represented themselves. Franz Laurent de Cannon was the hearing officer. Seth A. Fine was the settlement hearing officer.
The lawyer’s conduct violated the following Rules of Professional Conduct: 8.4(c) (Dishonesty, Fraud, Deceit, or Misrepresentation); 8.4(d) (Prejudicial to the Administration of Justice).
Greiner stipulated to suspension for: (1) taking funds to which the respondent was not entitled, and (2) entering into an agreement with A. (respondent’s former tenant under an office lease agreement, who was not and has never been respondent’s client) which required A. to withdraw their grievance.
Decision documents: Disciplinary Board Order Approving Stipulation, Stipulation to Suspension, and Washington Supreme Court Order.
Colleen A. Hartl (WSBA No. 18051, admitted 1988) of North Bend, WA, was suspended for 21 months, effective 8/2/2023, by order of the Washington Supreme Court. Henry Cruz and Kirsten Schimpff acted as disciplinary counsel. Colleen A. Hartl represented themselves. Timothy J. O’Connell was the hearing officer. Eric T. Krening was the settlement hearing officer.
The lawyer’s conduct violated the following Rules of Professional Conduct: 3.3 (Candor Toward the Tribunal), 8.4(c) (Dishonesty, Fraud, Deceit or Misrepresentation).
Hartl was found to have violated the Rules of Professional Conduct by making multiple false statements to a judge and the judge’s judicial assistant.
Decision documents: Hearing Officer’s Decision; Disciplinary Board Order Adopting Hearing Officer’s Decision; and Washington Supreme Court Order.
Benjamin David Kerr (WSBA No. 41442, admitted 2009) of Seattle, was suspended for 12 months, effective 12/2/2024, by order of the Washington Supreme Court. Francesca D’Angelo acted as disciplinary counsel. Todd Maybrown represented the respondent.
The lawyer’s conduct violated the following Rules of Professional Conduct: 8.1(a) (Bar Admission and Disciplinary Matters), 8.4(c) (Dishonesty, Fraud, Deceit, or Misrepresentation).
Kerr stipulated to suspension for providing ODC with false information about a grievance investigation.
Decision documents: Disciplinary Board Order Conditionally Approving Stipulation; Consent to Conditional Terms Under ELC 9.1(e)(2); Stipulation to 12 Month Suspension; and Washington Supreme Court Order.
Terence Kain Wong (WSBA No. 24502, admitted 1994) of Newcastle, was suspended for 12 months, effective 12/23/2024, by order of the Washington Supreme Court. Francisco Rodriguez acted as disciplinary counsel. Terence Kain Wong represented themselves.
The lawyer’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), 1.15A (Safeguarding Property), 1.16 (Declining or Terminating Representation), 3.2 (Expediting Litigation).
Wong stipulated to suspension for: (1) failing to act with reasonable diligence in a client’s criminal and immigration matters and, in another client’s criminal matter, (2) failing to promptly convey a plea offer to a client and failing to reasonably communicate with a client regarding their criminal matter, (3) representing clients in circumstances where the representation involved a concurrent conflict of interest without obtaining their informed consent, in writing or otherwise, (4) failing to provide a client with the agreed upon legal services in their immigration matter and failing to refund unearned fees after the representation ended, and failing to provide a client with the agreed upon legal services in their criminal matter and failing to refund unearned fees within a reasonable time after the representation ended.
Decision documents: Disciplinary Board Order Approving Stipulation; Stipulation to Suspension; and Washington Supreme Court Order.
Interim Suspension
Matthew Philip Goldman (WSBA No. 54657, admitted 2019) of Tigard, OR, is suspended from the practice of law in the state of Washington pending the outcome of disciplinary proceedings, effective 1/2/2025, by order of the Washington Supreme Court. This is not a disciplinary sanction.
Matthew John Ley (WSBA No. 46074, admitted 2013) of Belfair, WA, is suspended from the practice of law in the state of Washington pending the outcome of supplemental proceedings, effective 9/13/2024, by order of the Washington Supreme Court. This is not a disciplinary sanction.