| Description: |
Mark R. Cassidy (WSBA No. 11246, admitted 1980), of Lynnwood, was ordered to receive a reprimand following approval of a stipulation by the chief hearing officer on April 6, 2012. This discipline was based on conduct involving dishonesty. On February 18, 2011, Mr. Cassidy, an employee of a community college, was deposed by counsel for a staff member appealing her termination from the college. During the deposition, Mr. Cassidy intentionally gave false testimony, under oath, about a matter of marginal relevance. Mr. Cassidy testified falsely by denying his ownership of a Facebook account, claiming a fictitious person owned the site, and that the fictitious person, not Mr. Cassidy, made a posting to another Facebook page. After counsel for the staff member continued Mr. Cassidy’s deposition to allow him to provide contact information for the owner of the site, Mr. Cassidy confessed to
his lawyer that he had not told the truth, and his lawyer contacted the staff member’s lawyer and told him Mr. Cassidy’s statements were false.
When the deposition continued, Mr. Cassidy fully retracted his false statements, admitted that he was the owner of the Facebook site, and
testified that he had made the posting. Mr. Cassidy violated RPC 8.4(c), prohibiting a lawyer from engaging in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation. Kathleen A.T. Dassel represented the Bar Association. Mr. Cassidy represented himself. Joseph Nappi Jr. is the chief hearing officer. |