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Shannon K. Connall (WSBA No. 33299,
admitted 2002), of Portland, Oregon, was
disbarred, effective January 12, 2012, by order
of the Washington State Supreme Court
following a default hearing. This discipline
was based on conduct involving the crime of
theft, dishonest conduct, and disregard for
the rule of law.
At all relevant times, Ms. Connall practiced
law at her father’s firm in Portland, Oregon. In
December 2009, Ms. Connall’s law firm began
representing Client in a criminal matter. Client’s
mother gave the firm $11,000 to be used
to post bail for her son. The $11,000 was not
used because Client was never taken into
custody. In February 2010, Client’s estranged
wife hired Ms. Connall to represent her in an
unrelated matter and paid the firm $5,000.
In approximately June 2010, Client’s mother
asked for a refund of the $11,000 that she had
provided for Client’s bail. Ms. Connall told her
that the $11,000 had been applied to legal fees
owed by Client’s wife. This representation was
false. Ms. Connall had taken all or part of the
funds earmarked for Client’s bail. Ms. Connall
told Client’s estranged wife that she (the wife)
owed Client’s mother $11,000. As a result of
Ms. Connall’s misrepresentation, Client’s wife
allowed Ms. Connall to charge $11,000 to her
credit card so that the firm would repay Client’s
mother. Ms. Connall did not use these
funds to repay Client’s mother. Ms. Connall
appropriated the funds for her own use.
In October 2010, Client’s estranged wife
filed a grievance against Ms. Connall with
the Oregon State Bar. Rather than respond
to the grievance and other matters, Ms.
Connall resigned from the Oregon State Bar
effective December 23, 2010. On May 5, 2011,
the district attorney filed an Information
charging Ms. Connall with first-degree theft in
violation of ORS 164.055(1), which is a felony.
Ms. Connall entered a plea of no contest to
the first-degree theft charge, and the court
entered a finding of guilty on the first-degree
theft charge.
Ms. Connall’s conduct violated RPC 8.4(b),
prohibiting a lawyer from committing a criminal
act that reflects adversely on the lawyer’s
honesty, trustworthiness, or fitness as a lawyer
in other respects; RPC 8.4(c), prohibiting
a lawyer from engaging in conduct involving
dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation;
and RPC 8.4(i), prohibiting a lawyer from
committing any act involving moral turpitude,
or other act which reflects disregard for the
rule of law.
Joanne S. Abelson represented the Bar Association.
Ms. Connall did not appear either
in person or through counsel. Barbara Ann
Peterson was the hearing officer. |