Discipline Notice - Lina Beckford

License Number: 23800
Member Name: Lina Beckford
Discipline Detail
Action: Censure
Effective Date: 9/29/2000
RPC: 1.1 - Competence
Discipline Notice:
Description: Lina Beckford (WSBA No. 23800, admitted 1994), of Olympia, has been ordered censured pursuant to a stipulation approved by the Disciplinary Board on September 29, 2000. This discipline is based on her changing the wording in declarations after they were signed, without discussing the changes with the witnesses.
In 1997, Ms. Beckford represented a father in a modification of his parenting plan, filing several declarations in support of her client’s motion. Ms. Beckford’s client obtained written statements from witnesses, and she drafted formal declarations based on these statements. In drafting, Ms. Beckford changed the wording and meaning of the witnesses’ statements. One witness stated: "in the past I have seen [the mother] drink in the tavern and then go outside to the parking lot to take straight shot pulls off bottles of hard alcohol. She comes in to gamble frequently.…"
The declaration Ms. Beckford drafted for the witness stated: "I believe that [the mother] has a serious alcohol problem" and "I believe that [the mother] is an alcoholic and compulsive gambler." Ms. Beckford then gave the declarations back to her client, who obtained the witnesses’ signatures. No one from Ms. Beckford’s office contacted the witnesses or discussed the changes made in the statements with them. Subsequently, three of the witnesses filed second declarations with the court stating that the originals submitted by Ms. Beckford were untruthful.
Ms. Beckford’s conduct violated RPC 1.1, requiring lawyers to provide competent representation to their clients.
Becky Neal represented the Bar Association. Leland Ripley represented Ms. Beckford.


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