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Richard Llewelyn Jones (WSBA No. 12904, admitted 1982) of Ocean Shores, was suspended for 21 months, effective 6/12/2023, by order of the Washington Supreme Court. Jones’ conduct violated the following Rules of Professional Conduct: 1.7 (Conflict of Interest: Current Clients), 3.1 (Meritorious Claims and Contentions), 8.4(d) (Prejudicial to the Admin of Justice), 8.4(j) (Violate a Court Order).
In relation to his representation of clients in various bankruptcy, trust, and litigation matters , Jones stipulated to suspension for: 1) having Client A and Client B pay pre-petition fees and finance charges in violation of the automatic stays in their bankruptcies and the discharge order in Client A’s bankruptcy; 2) representing Client A after Client A filed bankruptcy while simultaneously being a creditor and collecting pre-petition debt from Client A; 3) collecting payments from Client A and Client B without the bankruptcy court’s knowledge or authority and in violation of the bankruptcy court’s orders and bankruptcy procedures; 4) concurrently representing Client B’s bankruptcy estate while being a creditor in Client B’s bankruptcy, and while representing Client B and Client B’s non-debtor wife in a land use lawsuit; 5) bringing a rescission motion in a trust matter that had no basis in law or fact that was not frivolous; 6) violating a court order regarding remote depositions in a Chelan County case; 7) filing a declaration in the Chelan County case which mischaracterized the events at the deposition.
Benjamin J. Attanasio, Erica Temple, Debra Slater and Jonathan Burke acted as disciplinary counsel. Kurt M. Bulmer represented Respondent. Randolph O. Petgrave, III was the hearing officer. William S. Bailey was the settlement hearing officer. The online version of Washington State Bar News contains links to the following documents: Disciplinary Board Order Approving Stipulation; Stipulation to Suspension; and Washington Supreme Court Order.
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