THESE NOTICES OF THE IMPOSITION OF DISCIPLINARY SANCTIONS AND ACTIONS involving lawyers, limited practice officers (LPOs), and limited license legal technicians (LLLTs). Active links to directory listings, which provide additional information and documents related to the disciplinary matter, and other linked information can be found by viewing the online version of Washington State Bar News at www.wabarnews.org or by looking up the respondent in the Discipline Notice Directory at https://www.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.
Resigned in Lieu of Discipline
Marion E. Knauss (WSBA No. 9668, admitted 1980) of Port Hadlock, resigned in lieu of discipline, effective 10/08/2025. 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. Benjamin Attanasio acted as disciplinary counsel. Marion (Ted) E. Knauss represented themselves.
The Statement of Alleged Misconduct reflects the following violations of the Rules of Professional Conduct: 1.15A (Safeguarding Property), 8.4(b) (Criminal Act), and 8.4(c) (Dishonesty, Fraud, Deceit or Misrepresentation).
Knauss’ alleged misconduct includes taking funds from a client’s trust for the respondent’s own purposes.
Decision document: Resignation Form of Marion E. Knauss (ELC 9.3(b)).
Josephine C. Townsend (WSBA No. 31965, admitted 2001) of Vancouver, resigned in lieu of discipline, effective 9/02/2025. 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. Claire Carden acted as disciplinary counsel. Josephine C. Townsend represented themselves.
The Statement of Alleged Misconduct reflects the following violations of the Rules of Professional Conduct: 8.4(b) (Criminal Act) and 8.4(c) (Dishonesty, Fraud, Deceit or Misrepresentation).
Townsend’s alleged misconduct includes: (1) committing the crime of identity theft in the second degree and (2) committing the crime of forgery.
Decision document: Resignation Form of Josephine C. Townsend (ELC 9.3(b)).
Suspended
Sean Patrick Kuhlmeyer (WSBA No. 38972, admitted 2007) of Seattle, was suspended for nine months, effective 9/3/2025, by order of the Washington Supreme Court. Benjamin Attanasio acted as disciplinary counsel. Anne I. Seidel represented respondent. Randolph O Petgrave III was the hearing officer. Timothy Moran was the settlement hearing officer.
The lawyer’s conduct violated the following Rules of Professional Conduct: 1.5 (Fees), 1.15A (Safeguarding Property), 1.15B (Required Trust Account Records), 3.1 (Meritorious Claims and Contentions), 3.4 (Fairness to Opposing Party and Counsel), and 8.4(d) (Prejudicial to the Admin of Justice).
Kuhlmeyer stipulated to suspension for: (1) bringing proceedings or asserting issues therein without a basis that was not frivolous; (2) knowingly violating court orders; (3) collecting a duplicate fee in a matter when the clients did not have those funds on deposit and using other client funds to cover that disbursement; (4) failing to hold client funds in a trust account; (5) failing to maintain a complete and accurate check register; and (6) failing to perform monthly reconciliations of respondent’s trust accounts.
Decision documents: Disciplinary Board Order Approving Stipulation; Stipulation to Suspension; and Washington Supreme Court Order.
Mika’il Rashid (WSBA No. 155LLLT, admitted 2021) of Tukwila, was suspended for 11 months, effective September 18, 2025, by order of the Washington Supreme Court. Erica Temple acted as disciplinary counsel. Mika’il Rashid represented themselves. Chief Hearing Officer Randolph O. Petgrave III was the hearing officer.
The LLLT’s conduct violated the following Limited License Legal Technician Rules of Professional Conduct (LLLT RPC): LLLT RPC 1.2(f) (scope); LLLT RPC 3.1(a)(1) (abuse of legal procedure); LLLT RPC 7.1(a) and (b) (communications concerning an LLLT’s services); and LLLT RPC 8.4(d) (conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice).
Decision documents: Hearing Officer’s Recommendation; LLLT Board Decision; Washington Supreme Court Order.
Patrick Francis Shearer (WSBA No. 52831, admitted 2017) of Bellevue, was suspended for 90 days, effective 10/1/2025, by order of the Washington Supreme Court. Sachia Stonefeld Powell acted as disciplinary counsel. Jeffrey T Kestle represented respondent. Knowrasa T Patrick was the hearing officer.
The lawyer’s conduct violated the following Rules of Professional Conduct: 1.3 (Diligence), 1.4 (Communication), 3.2 (Expediting Litigation), 3.3 (Candor Toward the Tribunal), 3.4 (Fairness to Opposing Party and Counsel), 8.4(c) (Dishonesty, Fraud, Deceit or Misrepresentation), and 8.4(d) (Prejudicial to the Admin of Justice).
Shearer stipulated to suspension for: (1) failing to keep a client reasonably informed about the status of the case, failing to promptly comply with the client’s reasonable request for information, and failing to explain the matter to the client to the extent reasonably necessary to allow the client to make informed decisions regarding the representation; (2) failing to respond to discovery requests and other reasonable inquiries of the opposing party’s counsel in a dissolution case, and failing to respond to motions; (3) failing to produce information responsive to the opposing party’s counsel’s discovery requests; and (4) informing the opposing party’s counsel and the court that the client was fully informed and was seeking information regarding stocks from the client’s employer, when that was not true.
Decision documents: Disciplinary Board Order Approving Stipulation; Stipulation to Suspension; and Washington Supreme Court Order.
Transfer to Disability Inactive Status
Matthew John Ley (WSBA No. 46074, admitted 2013) of Belfair, was by stipulation transferred to disability inactive status, effective 10/2/2025. This is not a disciplinary action.