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Elissa Ryan (WSBA No. 23759, admitted 1992), of Portland OR, was suspended for 18-months by order of the Supreme Court effective May 3, 2002. This suspension was reciprocal discipline based on RLD 12.6 and a suspension imposed by the Supreme Court of Oregon. This discipline is based on Ms. Ryan’s practicing law while her license was suspended in 1997.
In 1997, Ms. Ryan unintentionally missed a payment on her professional liability insurance. ORS 9.080(2)(a) requires all active members of the Oregon State Bar Association to maintain professional liability insurance. Based on this missed payment, the court suspended Ms. Ryan’s license to practice law effective April 11, 1997. Ms. Ryan learned of the suspension on April 14, 1997. Ms. Ryan continued to practice law while her license was suspended. She also failed to notify her clients, the court and opposing counsel of her suspension. In her petition for reinstatement, Ms. Ryan stated that she had not practiced law during her suspension.
Ms. Ryan’s conduct violated DR 1-102(A)(3); DR3-101(B), DR 7-102(A)(5), ORS 9.160 and ORS 9.527(4), prohibiting lawyers from practicing law while their license to practice is suspended and prohibiting misrepresentation.
Felice Congalton represented the Bar Association. Kurt Bulmer represented Ms. Ryan.
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