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.
Disbarred
Mark Ture Elliott (WSBA No. 54007, admitted 2018) of Tacoma, was disbarred, effective 5/14/2026, by order of the Washington Supreme Court. Claire Carden acted as disciplinary counsel. Mark Ture Elliott represented themselves. Randolph O. Petgrave III was the hearing officer.
The lawyer’s conduct violated the following Rules of Professional Conduct: 1.1 (Competence), 1.2 (Scope of Representation and Allocation of Authority Between Client and Lawy, 1.3 (Diligence), 1.4 (Communication), 1.5 (Fees), 1.16 (Declining or Terminating Representation), 3.2 (Expediting Litigation), 3.3 (Candor Toward the Tribunal), 8.4(c) (Dishonesty, Fraud, Deceit or Misrepresentation), 8.4(d) (Prejudicial to the Admin of Justice), and 8.4(l) (ELC violation).
The hearing officer recommended, and the court ordered, that Elliott be disbarred from the practice of law in Washington state.
Elliott was found to have violated the Rules of Professional Conduct by 1) failing to diligently represent a client; 2) failing to advise the client that the motion to renew a restraining order had been filed; 3) providing false information to the client; 4) failing to serve the prosecuting attorney a client’s motion for revision; 5) failing to respond to the client’s reasonable requests for information and/or failing to inform the client about the court’s order on reconsideration of the revision; 6) failing to timely file a notice of intent to withdraw in the client’s matter; 7) failing to respond to disciplinary counsel’s written requests for response to the client’s grievance, failing to produce the client file to ODC, and/or failing to appear as commanded at the depositions; 8) failing to communicate the settlement offer to a client; 9) failing to withdraw after being terminated; 10) failing to refund unearned fees to the client after they terminated respondent’s representation; 11) failing to respond to disciplinary counsel’s written requests for response to the client’s grievance; 12) failing to properly draft or serve a motion for contempt and/or failing to properly draft a motion for temporary orders; 13) failing to respond to a client’s reasonable requests for information; 14) charging the client for work that was of no benefit to them and failing to refund the unearned portion of the fee; 15) failing to withdraw after being terminated; 16) failing to respond to disciplinary counsel’s written requests for a response to the client’s grievance; 17) failing to perform work for a client in a probate matter and failing to act with reasonable diligence on a guardianship matter; 18) failing to respond to the client’s reasonable requests for information; 19) charging the client $2,000 and performing little or no work on the guardianship matter and charging the client for legal work respondent did not perform in the probate matter; 20) failing to refund unearned fees to the client after they terminated respondent’s representation; 21) providing a false statement to the King County Superior Court; 22) failing to respond to disciplinary counsel’s written request for a response to the client’s grievance; 23) failing to act with reasonable diligence in representing a client; 24) failing to respond to the client’s reasonable requests for information; 25) charging the client $1,500 and performing little or no work of benefit to the client; 26) failing to refund any unearned fees to the client after they terminated respondent’s representation; 27) failing to respond to disciplinary counsel’s written request for a response to the client’s grievance; and 28) failing to serve ODC with an affidavit of compliance after respondent’s license was interim suspended.
Decision documents: Hearing Officer’s Decision, Disciplinary Board Order Declining Sua Sponte Review and Adopting Hearing Officer’s Decision, and Washington Supreme Court Order.
Scott Erik Stafne (WSBA No. 6964, admitted 1976) of Arlington, was disbarred, effective 5/14/2026, by order of the Washington Supreme Court. Francisco Rodriguez acted as disciplinary counsel. Scott Erik Stafne represented themselves. Douglas Warren Vanscoy was the hearing officer.
The lawyer’s conduct violated the following Rules of Professional Conduct: 3.1 (Meritorious Claims and Contentions), 8.2 (Judicial and Legal Officials), 8.4(d) (Prejudicial to the Admin of Justice), and 8.4(h) (Prejudice or Bias).
The hearing officer recommended, and the court ordered, that Stafne be disbarred from the practice of law in Washington state.
Stafne was found to have violated the Rules of Professional Conduct by 1) bringing and defending several matters without having a basis in law and fact for doing so that was not frivolous and asserting and controverting issues in several matters without having a basis in law and fact for doing so that was not frivolous; and 2) alleging that Judge Zilly had age-related cognitive deficits and alleging that Judge Zilly and other senior federal judges in several matters were not Article III judges and were biased and/or corrupt, with reckless disregard for the truth or falsity of such allegations.
Decision documents: Hearing Officer’s Decision, Disciplinary Board Order Declining Sua Sponte Review and Adopting Hearing Officer’s Decision, and Washington Supreme Court Order.
Resigned in Lieu of Discipline
Alistair Chan (WSBA No. 55568, admitted 2019) of Bainbridge Island, resigned in lieu of discipline, effective 4/27/2026. 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. Francisco Rodriguez acted as disciplinary counsel. Alistair Chan represented themselves.
The Statement of Alleged Misconduct reflects the following violations of the Rules of Professional Conduct: 1.3 (Diligence), 1.4 (Communication), and 8.4(c) (Dishonesty, Fraud, Deceit or Misrepresentation).
Chan’s alleged misconduct includes 1) failing to act with reasonable diligence in pursuing patent applications on behalf of multiple clients, 2) failing to keep a client reasonably informed about the status of the client’s patent application, 3) failing to explain the issues that arose with the application to the extent necessary for the client to make informed decisions regarding the representation, and 4) making false statements to the client.
Decision document: Resignation Form of Alistair Chan (ELC 9.3(b)).
Alexandra Lozano (WSBA No. 40478, admitted 2008) of Tukwila, resigned in lieu of discipline, effective 5/26/2026. 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. Marina Busse and Claire Carden acted as disciplinary counsel. Kevin M. Bank, Angelo J. Calfo, Harold Malkin, and Tyler S. Weaver represented respondent.
The Statement of Alleged Misconduct reflects the following violations of the Rules of Professional Conduct: 1.5 (Fees), 1.7 (Conflict of Interest: Current Clients), 3.1 (Meritorious Claims and Contentions), 5.3 (Responsibilities Regarding Nonlawyer Assistants), 5.5 (Unauthorized Practice of Law; Multijurisdictional Practice of Law), 8.4(c) (Dishonesty, Fraud, Deceit or Misrepresentation), and 8.4(d) (Prejudicial to the Administration of Justice).
Lozano’s alleged misconduct includes: 1) directing staff to utilize a script that contained false and/or misleading information when communicating with prospective clients; 2) filing applications for immigration benefits with USCIS when respondent knew the clients were ineligible for those benefits; 3) utilizing non-lawyers to perform legal functions on behalf of clients, and/or delegating legal functions to non-lawyer staff such as performing client consultations and providing legal advice and/or providing respondent’s signature stamp for non-lawyer staff to affix to documents that respondent did not personally review; 4) failing to adequately supervise non-lawyer staff who performed legal functions and affixed respondent’s signature to filings; 5) referring clients to Salud Total without disclosing that evaluations were performed by unlicensed individuals; 6) directing staff to submit forms to USCIS bearing signatures that falsely certified that respondent had prepared the forms; 7) charging unreasonable fees for work performed by non-lawyers and for preparation of applications for which the clients were ineligible.
Decision document: Resignation Form of Alexandra Lozano (ELC 9.3(b)).
Suspended
Ashley Briana Cuber (WSBA No. 59370, admitted 2022) of Lakewood, CO, was suspended for one year, effective 5/14/2026, by order of the Washington Supreme Court. Francesca D’Angelo acted as disciplinary counsel. Ashley Briana Cuber represented themselves. Randolph O. Petgrave III was the hearing officer.
The lawyer’s conduct violated the following Colorado Rules of Professional Conduct: 1.3 (Diligence) and 1.4(a) and (b) (Communication). The lawyer’s conduct violated the following Washington Rules of Professional Conduct: 8.1 (Bar Admission and Disciplinary Matters) and 8.4(l) (ELC violation).
The hearing officer recommended, and the court ordered that Cuber be suspended from the practice of law in Washington state for one year.
Cuber was found to have violated the Colorado and Washington Rules of Professional Conduct by 1) failing to respond to a client’s reasonable requests for information, 2) failing to complete two clients’ work permit applications, 3) failing to respond to ODC’s requests for information, and/or 4) failing to appear at a deposition to which respondent had been subpoenaed.
Decision documents: Hearing Officer’s Decision, Disciplinary Board Order Declining Sua Sponte Review and Adopting Hearing Officer’s Decision, and Washington Supreme Court Order.
Paul Corbett Hanes (WSBA No. 50127, admitted 2015) of Pullman, was suspended for 30 months, effective 5/20/2026, by order of the Washington Supreme Court. Francisco Rodriguez acted as disciplinary counsel. Nicholas Christopher Larson represented respondent.
The lawyer’s conduct violated the following Rules of Professional Conduct: 1.3 (Diligence), 1.4 (Communication), 8.1 (Bar Admission and Disciplinary Matters), 8.4(c) (Dishonesty, Fraud, Deceit or Misrepresentation), 8.4(d) (Prejudicial to the Administration of Justice), and 8.4(l) (ELC violation).
Hanes stipulated to suspension for: 1) failing to act with reasonable diligence in representing the owners of Cougar Ridge Apartments, including by failing to file a notice of appearance, failing to timely answer the complaint, failing to seek leave of the court to respond to the motion for default, failing to move to set aside the default, and failing to respond to inquiries from opposing counsel about settlement; 2) failing to keep respondent’s clients reasonably informed about the status of their matter and failing to respond to their reasonable requests for information about the case; 3) making false and misleading statements to clients and opposing counsel; 4) making false statements to ODC.
Decision documents: Disciplinary Board Order Approving Stipulation, Stipulation to Suspension, and Washington Supreme Court Order.
Karina A. Gomez-Silva (License No. 183LLLT, admitted 2022) of Yakima, was suspended for nine months, effective 5/5/2026, by order of the Washington Supreme Court. Thea Jennings acted as disciplinary counsel. Leland G. Ripley represented respondent.
The LLLT’s conduct violated the following Limited License Legal Technician Rules of Professional Conduct (LLLT RPC): 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).
Gomez-Silva stipulated to suspension for omitting “LLLT” on pleadings filed in Superior Court and failing to identify as an LLLT during a hearing.
Decision documents: LLLT Board Order, Stipulation, and Washington Supreme Court Order.
Reprimanded
Nathan Brown (WSBA No. 51768, admitted 2017) of Richland, was reprimanded, effective 4/2/2026, by order of the Washington Supreme Court imposing reciprocal discipline in accordance with an order of the Supreme Court of the State of Arizona. For more information, see https://www.azcourts.gov/Portals/0/BROWN%20PDJ2025-9008%20BAR%20033482.pdf.
Tim Allen acted as special disciplinary counsel. Nathan Brown represented themselves.
Decision document: Washington Supreme Court Order.
Interim Suspension
James Kemp (WSBA No. 60897, admitted 2023) of Vancouver, is suspended from the practice of law in the state of Washington pending the outcome of disciplinary proceedings, effective 4/30/2026, by order of the Washington Supreme Court. This is not a disciplinary sanction.
Transfer to Disability Inactive Status
Dale Ray Cook (WSBA No. 31634, admitted 2001) of Tacoma, was by stipulation transferred to disability inactive status, effective 9/21/2022. This is not a disciplinary action.
Petition For Reinstatement
A petition for reinstatement after disbarment has been filed by Magor Julian Denes (WSBA No. 37505), who was admitted in 2006 and disbarred in 2013. A hearing on Denes’ petition is scheduled to be conducted before the Character and Fitness Board on Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. Anyone wishing to do so may file with the Character and Fitness Board a written statement for or against reinstatement, setting forth factual matters to demonstrate that the petition does or does not meet the requirements of Washington 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 Counsel to the Character and Fitness Board, Washington State Bar Association, at OGC@wsba.org on or prior to the date of the hearing pursuant to APR 25.4(b). This notice is published pursuant to APR 25.4(a).