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Lewis M. King (WSBA No. 10138, admitted 1971), of New York, NY, was disbarred effective October 9, 2003, by order of the Washington State Supreme Court imposing reciprocal discipline based on an order from the state of Oregon. This discipline was based on his conduct between 1989 and 1993 involving theft and lack of diligence.
Matter 1: In 1993, Mr. King misappropriated $70,306.07 from three clients.
Matter 2: In 1989, Mr. King represented a client in a residential real estate purchase. The seller was to obtain an FHA loan that the client would assume. The client asked Mr. King to assist the seller in obtaining the loan. In September 1989, Mr. King filed a lawsuit for the client, but allowed the court to dismiss it for lack of prosecution. In August 1991, Mr. King filed a second action on the client’s behalf, naming identical defendants and raising identical issues. On March 30, 1992, the court granted the defendants’ summary judgment dismissal.
Mr. King’s conduct violated: DR 1-102(A)(2) , prohibiting committing a criminal act reflecting adversely on the lawyer’s honesty, trustworthiness or fitness to practice; DR 1-102(A)(3), prohibiting engaging in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation; and DR 6-101(B), prohibiting knowingly neglecting a client’s legal matter.
Felice Congalton represented the Bar Association. Mr. King represented himself.
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