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George M. Riecan, (WSBA No. 12056, admitted 1981), of Tacoma, resigned in lieu of disbarment, effective October 2, 2012. This discipline is based on failing to maintain client funds in a trust account.
Since October 1981, Mr. Riecan has practiced primarily in the areas of workers’ compensation, personal injury, social security disability, and maritime law. Mr. Riecan was the sole shareholder of the Law Firm and made all management decisions for the Firm. Mr. Riecan maintained trust accounts at several financial institutions, was the only authorized signer on all of the trust accounts, and was the only lawyer responsible for the trust account records.
In August 2011, the Association informed Mr. Riecan that an Association auditor would conduct random examination of his trust accounts. At Mr. Riecan’s request, the random examination was delayed until May 2012. Shortly before the May 2012 random examination, Mr. Riecan hired a contract bookkeeper. The bookkeeper reconciled Mr. Riecan’s check register to his bank statements and his check register to the combined total of his client ledgers for the period January 2011 to August 2012. Between January 31, 2011 and August 15, 2012, Mr. Riecan’s trust accounts were short in client funds in amounts ranging from $538,794.96 to $555,679.50. Mr. Riecan had these and similar shortages of client funds in his trust account(s) for a number of years.
Mr. Riecan’s conduct violated RPC 1.15A(c)(1), requiring a lawyer to deposit and hold client funds in a trust account funds.
Marsha Matsumoto represented the Bar Association. Kenneth S. Kagan represented Mr. Riecan.
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