| Description: |
Laine E. Hedwall (WSBA No. 26179, admitted 1996), of Monrovia, California, was disbarred, effective April 14, 2011, by order of the Washington State Supreme Court imposing reciprocal discipline in accordance with an order of the Supreme Court of the State of California. This discipline is based on Mr. Hedwall’s stipulation to misconduct in eight client matters, including failing to competently perform legal services; failing to respond to clients’ reasonable status inquiries; failing to maintain client funds in trust; failing to return client funds; failing to return client papers and property; failing to return unearned fees; failing to provide accountings of client funds; misappropriating client funds; misrepresenting facts to clients; failing to cooperate with six State Bar investigations; and engaging in acts of moral turpitude, dishonesty, or corruption. For more information, see the California Bar Journal (April 2011), available at www.calbarjournal.com/april2011/attorneydiscipline/disbarments.aspx.
Mr. Hedwall’s conduct violated California’s RPC 3-110(A), prohibiting a member from intentionally, recklessly, or repeatedly failing to perform legal services with competence; California’s RPC 3-700(D)(1), requiring a member whose employment has terminated to, subject to any protective order or non-disclosure agreement, promptly release to the client, at the request of the client, all the client’s papers and property; California’s RPC 3-700(D)(2), requiring a lawyer whose employment has terminated to promptly refund any part of a fee paid in advance that has not been earned; California’s RPC 4-100(A), requiring all funds received or held for the benefit of clients by a member or law firm be deposited in one or more identifiable bank accounts labeled “Trust Account,” or words of similar import, and maintained in the State of California; California’s RPC 4-100(B)(3), requiring a lawyer to maintain complete records of all funds, securities, and other properties of a client coming into the possession of the member or law firm and render appropriate accounts to the client regarding them; California’s RPC 4-100(B)(4), requiring a lawyer to promptly pay or deliver, as requested by the client, any funds, securities, or other properties in the possession of the member which the client is entitled to receive; California’s Business and Professions Code Section 6103, in which a willful disobedience or violation of an order of the court requiring him to do or forbear an act connected with or in the course of his profession, which he ought in good faith to do or forbear, and any violation of the oath taken by him, or of his duties as such attorney, constitutes causes for disbarment or suspension; California’s Business and Professions Code Sections 6106, in which the commission of any act involving moral turpitude, dishonesty, or corruption constitutes a cause for disbarment or suspension; California’s Business and Professions Code Sections 6068(i), in which it is the duty of an attorney to cooperate and participate in any disciplinary investigation or other regulatory or disciplinary proceeding pending against himself or herself; and California’s Business and Professions Code Sections 6068(m), in which it is the duty of an attorney to respond promptly to reasonable status inquiries of clients and to keep clients reasonably informed of significant developments in matters with regard to which the attorney has agreed to provide legal services.
Joanne S. Abelson represented the Bar Association. Mr. Hedwall represented himself. |