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by order of the Washington Supreme Court. Francisco Rodriguez represented acted as disciplinary counsel. Anne I. Seidel represented Respondent.
The lawyer’s conduct violated the following Rules of Professional Conduct: 1.3 (Diligence), 1.4 (Communication), 3.2 (Expediting Litigation), 3.3 (Candor Toward the Tribunal), 8.1 (Bar Admission and Disciplinary Matters), 8.4(b) (Criminal Act), 8.4(c) (Dishonesty, Fraud, Deceit or Misrepresentation), 8.4(d) (Prejudicial to the Admin of Justice), 8.4(l) (Violating a Duty or Sanction Imposed by or under the Rules for Enforcement of Lawyer Conduct in Connection with a Disciplinary Matter).
Efimova was found to have violated the Rules of Professional Conduct by 1) failing to act with reasonable diligence in filing a client’s immigration application; 2) impersonating another person in communicating with a client, and failing to disclose Efimova's delays in filing client's immigration applications; 3) submitting falsified immigration forms to users on behalf of clients and making false statements to users regarding the authenticity of these forms, and submitting falsified immigration forms to users on behalf of multiple clients; 4) making false statements to ODC, submitting falsified evidence to ODC during the course of a disciplinary investigation, and making false statements under oath at a disciplinary deposition; 5) making false statements to several clients, providing them with falsified records, failing to disclose Efimova's delays in pursuing relief in the clients’ immigration matters, and failing to accurately inform them about the status of their matters and/or related matters; 6) providing multiple clients with falsified emails, failing to disclose Efimova's delays in pursuing relief on their behalf, and failing to accurately inform them about the status of their matters; 7) making false statements to representatives of the immigration court regarding past filings in the cases of multiple clients that Efimova had not actually made, and by sending falsified records relating to these cases to the court; 8) failing to act with reasonable diligence in representing clients and their children in removal proceedings; 9) failing to keep clients and their children reasonably informed about the status of their immigration matters and failing to explain their matters to the extent reasonably necessary to permit them to make informed decisions regarding the representations; 10) making false statements in the relevant motions, declarations, and other supporting documents, Efimova filed on behalf of clients and their children; and 11) making false statements and sending a falsified federal court order to a client.
Decision documents: Order Approving Stipulation; Stipulation to Disbarment; and Washington Supreme Court Order.
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