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Richard Alan Jackson (WSBA No. 5675, admitted 1974), of Renton, has been disbarred by order of the Supreme Court effective June 1, 2000, following a default hearing. The discipline is based upon his abandoning his practice without notice to his clients and converting client funds from his trust account for his personal use.
Prior to November 1997, Mr. Jackson was an active sole practitioner in Renton, Washington. In late November 1997, he abandoned his practice without notice to his clients and removed all but $2.37 from his trust account. Mr. Jackson has not repaid or accounted for any of the clients’ monies removed from his trust account.
Matter 1: At the time he abandoned his practice, Mr. Jackson represented the husband in a dissolution matter. The client gave Mr. Jackson a $6,000 cashier’s check to be delivered to opposing counsel under the terms of the parties’ settlement. Mr. Jackson originally told his client that the delay in delivering the funds to opposing counsel was due to a banking error. When his legal assistant asked him about the client’s funds, Mr. Jackson told her that he had taken the money to pay his own back child support.
Matter 2: Mr. Jackson represented a client in a house purchase transaction. The client’s father gave Mr. Jackson $3,000 as earnest money for the transaction. When Mr. Jackson abandoned his practice, the transaction was still pending and the money was not in the trust account.
Matter 3: Mr. Jackson represented a client in a traffic offense. In November 1997, the client’s account had a credit balance of $230. In November 1997, Mr. Jackson appeared in court for the client. Mr. Jackson did not bill the client for the November services and removed the client’s money from the trust account.
Matter 4: Mr. Jackson represented a couple in a child residential placement matter. The client’s case was set for trial in January 1998. Mr. Jackson did not notify the clients prior to abandoning his practice and did not make arrangements for another lawyer to represent them at trial. He removed the client’s unearned $520.30 advance fee deposit from the trust account.
Matter 5: Mr. Jackson represented a client in a child residential placement matter. The client paid a $1,500 advance fee deposit. Mr. Jackson earned approximately $300, but removed the entire advance fee from the trust account.
Matter 6: Mr. Jackson assisted a client in clearing title to real property. The client paid a $1,500 advance fee deposit to eliminate two liens filed against the property. Mr. Jackson did eliminate one of the liens, but did little or no work on the second. He removed the entire advance fee from his trust account.
Matter 7: Mr. Jackson represented the wife in a dissolution action. The client received a $9,212.32 cashier’s check as part of the settlement. Mr. Jackson suggested that the client allow him to hold her funds in his trust account to protect the funds from creditors. The client endorsed the check to Mr. Jackson and he deposited the funds into his trust account. Mr. Jackson disbursed approximately $2,750 to the client and kept $798.67 for his fee. At the time he abandoned his practice, Mr. Jackson removed the remaining funds from his trust account.
Matter 8: Mr. Jackson represented the executor of an estate. He failed to appear at a December 3, 1997 hearing. As a result, the client was removed as executor.
Mr. Jackson’s conduct violated RCW 9A.56.030, theft in the first degree; RPC 8.4(c), prohibiting engaging in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation; RPC 8.4(d), prohibiting conduct engaging in conduct that is prejudicial to the administration of justice; and RPC 1.15(d), requiring lawyers to take steps to protect a client’s interests when withdrawing from representation.
Christine Gray represented the Bar Association. Mr. Jackson represented himself. The hearing officer was Geoffrey G. Revelle.
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