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Barbara Tomaszewski (WSBA No. 12430, admitted 1982), of Seattle, has been disbarred by order of the Supreme Court effective June 24, 1998. The discipline follows a default hearing and is based upon her conversion of funds due her employer.
Ms. Tomaszewski was an immigration law associate in a small law firm. Between October 1993 and April 1995, she retained for herself approximately $20,000 in funds paid to her by 17 of the firm’s clients, and deposited those funds in her personal bank account. She did not claim the payments from the clients on her 1993 and 1994 income tax returns. In one instance, she commingled client funds with her own by depositing into her personal account client funds earmarked for a bond required by the Immigration and Naturalization Service.
Ms. Tomaszewski’s conduct violated RPC 8.4(b), which prohibits a lawyer from engaging in criminal acts; RPC 8.4(c), which prohibits a lawyer from engaging in acts involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation; RPC 1.14, which prohibits commingling of funds; and/or RLD 1.1(a), which prohibits a lawyer from committing acts which involve moral turpitude or which reflect disregard for the rule of law.
The Hearing Officer was Nancy Preg of Seattle. Respondent did not appear. Disciplinary Counsel Joanne S. Abelson represented the Bar Association.
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