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Vernon Guinn (WSBA No. 3314, admitted 1966), of Longview, has been disbarred pursuant to a stipulation for discipline, approved by the Supreme Court effective September 9, 1998.
In the stipulation, Mr. Guinn admitted that during the period from December 1986 through May 1989, he converted $19,996 in trust funds belonging to one of his clients.
On September 30, 1992, Mr. Guinn was convicted by a jury of First Degree Theft for taking funds belonging to his client. Mr. Guinn was sentenced to 180 days, with 90 days converted to community service, and was required to pay restitution to his client. He has been suspended from practicing law under Rule for Lawyer Discipline 3.2 since August 8, 1991.
Mr. Guinn stipulated that his conduct violated the following rules: (1) RLD 1.1(a) (commission of any act involving moral turpitude, dishonesty or corruption); (2) RLD 1.1(b) (willful disobedience or violation of a court order); and (3) RLD 1.1(i) (violating the Rules of Professional Conduct) and, in particular, RPC 8.4(b) (committing a criminal act that reflects adversely on the lawyer’s honesty, trustworthiness or fitness as a lawyer); and (4) RPC 8.4(c) (engaging in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation).
The Hearing Officer was Stephen J. Fredrickson of Seattle. Kurt Bulmer represented Mr. Guinn. Disciplinary Counsel Jonathan Burke represented the Bar Association.
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