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Kristi Pimpleton (WSBA No. 34419, admitted 2003) of Bothell, WA, was disbarred, effective 2/19/2024, by order of the Washington Supreme Court. Erica Temple acted as disciplinary counsel. Kristi Pimpleton represented themselves. Randolph O. Petgrave, III was the hearing officer.
The lawyer’s conduct violated the following Rules of Professional Conduct: 1.3 (Diligence), 1.4 (Communication), 1.5 (Fees), 1.15A (Safeguarding Property), 1.16 (Declining or Terminating Representation), 3.2 (Expediting Litigation), 3.4 (Fairness to Opposing Party and Counsel), 8.1 (Bar Admission and Disciplinary Matters), 8.4(c) (Dishonesty, Fraud, Deceit or Misrepresentation), 8.4(d) (Prejudicial to the Admin of Justice), 8.4(j) (Violate a Court Order).
Pimpleton was found to have violated the Rules of Professional Conduct by: 1) failing to diligently represent a client and/or failing to appear for the client’s hearing; 2) failing to keep the client reasonably informed about the status of the case, and failing to respond to the client’s reasonably necessary requests for information, and/or failing to explain the matter to the extent reasonably necessary to permit the client to make informed decisions regarding the representation; 3) failing to refund unearned fees; 4) failing to respond to disciplinary counsel’s requests for a written response to the grievance and for documents, failing to appear at deposition, and/or failing to produce records in response to a subpoena; 5) failing to refund unearned fees; 6) failing to deposit client funds into a trust account; 7) failing to respond to disciplinary counsel’s requests for a response to a grievance; 8) failing to respond timely to discovery requests from opposing counsel, failing to respond to motions to compel and for sanctions, and/or failing to diligently represent a client; 9) failing to respond timely to discovery requests from opposing counsel, failing to respond to motions to compel and for sanctions, failing to appear at hearings on the motions, and/or failing to comply with the court orders; 10) failing to communicate with client about the status of the case, providing client with inaccurate information, and/or failing to respond to client’s reasonable requests for information; 11) collecting and retaining fees for representation when the services were not performed and/or failing to refund unearned fees upon termination of the representation; 12) failing to promptly respond to a client’s grievance; 13) failing to communicate with client regarding the client’s case and/or failing to respond to the client’s requests for information; 14) failing to diligently handle client’s case and/or abandoning the client’s case; 15) charging and collecting an unreasonable fee and/or failing to refund unearned fees; 16) failing to respond promptly to a client’s requests for information, failing to keep client reasonably informed about the status of the matter, failing to explain the matter to the extent reasonably necessary to permit client to make informed decision regarding the representation, and/or providing with false and/or misleading information; 17) failing to diligently represent client; 18) continuing to charge client a retainer fee after client already paid the fee by credit card and/or collecting fees for work that was no performed; 19) falsely representing to ODC that lawyer spoke with opposing party’s lawyer regarding client’s case and/or submitting a false billing record to ODC; 20) failing to respond to discovery requests from opposing counsel, failing to respond to a motion to compel discovery, failing to appear for a hearing on the motion, and/or failing to diligently represent a client; 21) failing to pay the sanctions ordered by the court; 22) failing to communicate with client about the status of the case, failing to inform client about opposing counsel’s discovery requests and motion to compel, and/or failing to respond to client’s reasonable requests for information; 23) failing to promptly respond to client’s grievance and/or failing to appear for deposition; 24) failing to communicate with client regarding the status of the case and/or failing to respond to client’s reasonable requests for information; 25) failing to diligently handle client’s case; 26) charging and collecting an unreasonable fee and/or failing to refund unearned fees to client; 27) failing to respond to disciplinary counsel’s written requests for a response to a client’s grievance, failing to appear for deposition, and/or failing to produce records in response to a subpoena; 28) committing the acts described in the Formal Complaint, thus Pimpleton demonstrated unfitness to practice law.
Decision documents: Hearing Officer’s Decision; Disciplinary Board Order Declining Sua Sponte Review and Adopting Hearing Officer's Decision; and Washington Supreme Court Order.
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