Discipline Notice - Rick J. Wathen

License Number: 25539
Member Name: Rick J. Wathen
Discipline Detail
Action: Reprimand
Effective Date: 8/13/2021
RPC: 1.7 - Conflict of Interest; General Rule
Discipline Notice: Order Approving Stipulation
Stipulation
Notice of Reprimand
Description: Rick J. Wathen (WSBA No. 25539, admitted 1995) of Seattle, was reprimanded, effective 8/13/2021, by order of the hearing officer. Wathen’s conduct violated the following Rules of Professional Conduct: 1.7 (Conflict of Interest: Current Clients), 8.4(c) (Dishonesty, Fraud, Deceit or Misrepresentation), 8.4(d) (Prejudicial to the Admin of Justice).

In relation to his representation of client A in pursuing collections against person B related to a joint property agreement involving certain real property in Seattle, Wathen stipulated to a reprimand for: 1) his negligent conduct in obtaining an amended judgment order and judgment in which he included in his declaration an incomplete spreadsheet as an exhibit and in which the order exceeded the relief requested in the complaint; 2) his negligent conduct relating to and following his representations to the court regarding person B’s attempt to redeem Parcel B in which he failed to honor his promise in court to allow person B five additional days to redeem; and 3) negligently representing client A when there was a conflict of interest regarding liability for violations of CR 11.

Jonathan Burke and Kathy Jo Blake acted as disciplinary counsel. Jeffrey Paul Downer and Kyle Rekofke represented Respondent. The online version of Washington State Bar News contains links to the following documents: Order Approving Stipulation to Reprimand; Stipulation to Reprimand; and Notice of Reprimand.


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