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
Timothy W. Durkop (WSBA No. 22985, admitted 1993) of Spokane Valley, was disbarred, effective 8/25/2026, by order of the Washington Supreme Court. Nate Blanchard acted as disciplinary counsel. Timothy W. Durkop represented themselves. Deborah Rose Wechselblatt was the hearing officer.
The lawyer’s conduct violated the following Rules of Professional Conduct: 1.2 (Scope of Representation and Allocation of Authority Between Client and Lawyer), 1.3 (Diligence), 1.4 (Communication), 3.2 (Expediting Litigation), 3.4 (Fairness to Opposing Party and Counsel), 8.1 (Bar Admission and Disciplinary Matters), 8.4(c) (Dishonesty, Fraud, Deceit or Misrepresentation), and 8.4(l) (ELC Violation).
The hearing officer recommended, and the court ordered, that Durkop be disbarred from the practice of law in Washington state.
Durkop was found to have violated the Rules of Professional Conduct by 1) stipulating to an order compelling discovery responses and later stipulating to a default order agreeing to liability without the client’s consent; 2) failing to respond to or providing nonsubstantive responses to motions to compel discovery, a motion for class certification, and motions for default and discovery sanctions; 3) failing to make any objection to class inclusion after agreeing to a default order that expressly allowed for such objections; 4) failing to keep the client reasonably informed, including failing to disclose critical motions, hearings, sanctions orders, the order certifying the class, and proposed and agreed default orders; 5) making misleading statements to the client and providing incomplete information, including assuring the client the case was going well, falsely stating opposing counsel intended to visit the client’s office to review documents, and providing an incomplete copy of a court order granting class certification; and 6) failing to cooperate with the disciplinary investigation, including failing to respond to written inquiries, failing to produce the client file, and failing to appear for a commanded deposition.
Decision documents: Hearing Officer’s Decision; Disciplinary Board Order Declining Sua Sponte Review and Adopting Hearing Officer’s Decision; and Washington Supreme Court Order.
Michael Olufemi Ewetuga (WSBA No. 37596, admitted 2006) of Tacoma, was disbarred, effective 8/27/2026, by order of the Washington Supreme Court. Nate Blanchard acted as disciplinary counsel. Michael Olufemi Ewetuga represented themselves. Randolph O. Petgrave III 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), 8.1 (Bar Admission and Disciplinary Matters), 8.4(d) (Prejudicial to the Administration of Justice), and 8.4(l) (ELC Violation).
The hearing officer recommended, and the court ordered, that Ewetuga be disbarred from the practice of law in Washington state.
Ewetuga was found to have violated the Rules of Professional Conduct by 1) failing to take any action to prosecute two client lawsuits after filing the complaints and summonses; 2) failing to respond to the client’s requests for information and failing to reasonably and promptly communicate with the client about pretrial deadlines, missed deadlines, court notices, and the lawyer’s suspension; 3) failing to comply with the duties imposed on suspended lawyers, including failing to notify the client and the court of the suspension and advise the client to promptly obtain substitute counsel; and 4) failing to promptly respond to disciplinary counsel’s written requests for a response to ODC’s grievance, failing to provide the client file as requested, and failing to appear at a deposition.
Decision documents: Hearing Officer’s Decision; Disciplinary Board Order Declining Sua Sponte Review and Adopting Hearing Officer’s Decision; and Washington Supreme Court Order.
Suspended
Donna L. Johnston (WSBA No. 23630, admitted 1994) of Renton, was suspended for one year, effective 9/7/2026, by order of the Washington Supreme Court. Marina Busse acted as disciplinary counsel. Anne I. Seidel represented respondent. Jehiel Baer was the hearing officer. Janice S. Wang was the settlement hearing officer.
The lawyer’s conduct violated the following Rules of Professional Conduct: 1.3 (Diligence) and 1.4 (Communication).
Johnston stipulated to suspension for 1) failing to appear at a hearing regarding the renewal of a protection order and 2) failing to communicate with the client about the hearing.
Decision documents: Disciplinary Board Order Approving Stipulation; Stipulation to Suspension; and Washington Supreme Court Order.
Ronnie A. Soriano Jr. (WSBA No. 42564, admitted 2010) of Montesano, was suspended for six months, effective 9/07/2026, by order of the Washington Supreme Court. Kimberly Shely acted as disciplinary counsel. Ronnie A. Soriano Jr. represented themselves.
The lawyer’s conduct violated the following Rules of Professional Conduct: 1.3 (Diligence), 1.4 (Communication), 1.5 (Fees), 1.15A (Safeguarding Property), 1.16 (Declining or Terminating Representation), 3.2 (Expediting Litigation), 5.1 (Responsibilities of a Partner or Supervisory Lawyer), and 5.3 (Responsibilities Regarding Nonlawyer Assistants).
Soriano stipulated to suspension for 1) failing to diligently represent multiple clients, 2) failing to reasonably communicate with multiple clients about the status of their matters and/or requests for explanations of the fees charged, 3) attempting to charge one client an unreasonable fee, 4) failing to deposit advance fees into the required trust account, 5) failing to promptly refund unearned advance fees, 6) failing to supervise respondent’s associate lawyer, and 7) failing to adequately supervise a paralegal involved in a client matter.
Decision documents: Disciplinary Board Order Approving Stipulation; Stipulation to Suspension; and Washington Supreme Court Order.