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Jason L. Woehler (WSBA No. 27658, admitted 1997) of Redmond, resigned in lieu of discipline, effective 9/01/2020. Woehler agrees that he is aware of the alleged misconduct in disciplinary counsel’s Statement of Alleged Misconduct and rather than defend against the allegations, he wishes to permanently resign from membership in the Association. The Statement of Alleged Misconduct reflects the following violations of the Rules of Professional Conduct: 1.4 (Communication), 1.15A (Safeguarding Property), 1.15B (Required Trust Account Records), 1.16 (Declining or Terminating Representation), 3.3 (Candor Toward the Tribunal), 8.4 (Misconduct).
Woehler’s alleged misconduct, as stated in disciplinary counsel’s Statement of Alleged Misconduct, related primarily to his representation of client A in a guardianship estate matter, and client B in a collections matter. His alleged misconduct includes: 1) using and/or converting client A’s ward’s funds; 2) failing to maintain client A’s ward’s funds in a trust account; 3) filing one or more false Reports and Accountings, signed under penalty of perjury, with the court and/or by presenting orders to the court approving the Reports and Accountings when he knew they contained false information; 4) failing to provide client A with a written accounting after distributing funds from his trust account and/or by providing client A with a false accounting and/or by failing to keep client A informed regarding the status of client A’s ward’s funds; 5) failing to maintain a complete and/or current check register and/or client ledgers; 6) failing to reconcile a check register to bank statements and/or by failing to reconcile a check register to client ledgers for his trust account; 7) disbursing funds in excess of the amounts clients and/or third persons had on deposit in his trust account and/or by using one client’s funds on behalf of another; 8) using and/or converting client B’s funds; 9) failing to deposit and/or maintain client B’s funds in a trust account; 10) failing to promptly notify client B when he received funds; 11) failing to provide client B with a written accounting after distributing funds from his trust account and/or by failing to provide client B with a written accounting upon request and/or failing to keep client B informed regarding the status of its funds; and 12) failing to promptly pay and/or deliver funds that client B was entitled to receive.
Marsha Matsumoto acted as disciplinary counsel. Jason L. Woehler represented himself. James Smith was the hearing officer. Seth A. Fine was the settlement hearing officer. The online version of Washington State Bar News contains a link to the following document: Resignation Form of Jason L. Woehler (ELC 9.3(b)).
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