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Harold M. Turner (WSBA No. 33341, admitted 2003) of Federal Way, WA, was suspended for 12 months, effective 4/01/2020, by order of the Washington Supreme Court. Turner’s conduct violated the following Rules of Professional Conduct: 1.3 (Diligence), 1.4 (Communication), 1.5 (Fees), 1.16 (Declining or Terminating Representation), 3.2 (Expediting Litigation), 8.4 (Misconduct).
In relation to his representation of two clients in separate matters involving civil litigation and family law, Turner stipulated to a twelve-month suspension for the following: 1) failing to diligently represent his client in a civil lawsuit; 2) failing to comply with his clients’ reasonable requests for information on the status of matters, and failing to explain legal matters to the extent reasonably necessary to permit the client to make informed decisions about the representation; 3) failing to complete work that a client had hired him to do; 4) failing to refund unearned fees to clients; 5) failing to respond to the Office of Disciplinary Counsel’s (ODC) requests for response to grievances and by not timely providing documents subpoenaed by ODC.
M Craig Bray acted as disciplinary counsel. Harold M. Turner represented himself. Randolph O. Petgrave, III was the hearing officer. Kenneth B. Gorton was the settlement hearing officer. The online version of Washington State Bar News contains links to the following documents: Order Approving Stipulation to Suspension; Stipulation to 12 Month Suspension; and Washington Supreme Court Order.
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