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Allen C. Jorgensen (WSBA No. 23671, admitted 1994), of Redlands, CA, was suspended for 75 days and reprimanded, effective May 4, 2004, by order of the Washington State Supreme Court imposing reciprocal discipline based on an order from the state of California. This discipline was based on his conduct in 2000, involving acts of misconduct in bankruptcy and real property matters.
Matter 1: In August 2000, a client paid Mr. Jorgensen $1,000 to file a lawsuit regarding delivery of a motor home. Between August 25 and October 18, 2000, Mr. Jorgensen failed to return the client's calls for information on the status of his lawsuit. On October 18, 2000, the client sent Mr. Jorgensen a letter requesting a full refund and return of all documents. Mr. Jorgensen did not respond to the client's letter.
Matter 2: This matter includes eight client matters and an allegation that Mr. Jorgensen failed to comply with a prior disciplinary order. In seven matters, Mr. Jorgensen represented the clients in bankruptcy petitions. In five of these matters, Mr. Jorgensen accepted the clients' money, did no work, and failed to refund unearned fees or return the clients' files. Mr. Jorgensen did not notify these clients that he was withdrawing from the representation. In two other bankruptcy matters, Mr. Jorgensen filed incomplete bankruptcy petitions, which the court dismissed.
In one client matter, Mr. Jorgensen agreed to assist a client in obtaining clear title to a real property she inherited. The client delivered the original will, death certificate, and property deed to Mr. Jorgensen. Mr. Jorgensen failed to do any work on the client's case. He did not return the client's original documents or unearned fees.
A prior disciplinary order required Mr. Jorgensen to attend ethics school. Although the Probation Unit sent Mr. Jorgensen a letter reminding him of this obligation, he failed to provide proof of attendance.
Mr. Jorgensen's conduct violated California Business and Professions Code §§ 6068(m), requiring lawyers to respond promptly to reasonable status inquiries from clients; 6068(i), requiring lawyers to cooperate with the disciplinary investigation; and 6103, requiring lawyers to comply with the terms of disciplinary orders; and California Rules of Professional Conduct 3-700(D)(1), requiring lawyers to promptly release, upon termination of representation, all client papers and property upon request; 3-700(D)(2), requiring lawyers to promptly return unearned advance-fee deposits; 3-700(A)(2), requiring lawyers to take reasonable steps to protect a client's interests upon withdrawal from the representation; and 3-110(a), prohibiting lawyers from intentionally, recklessly, or repeatedly failing to perform legal services with competence.
Felice Congalton represented the Bar Association. Mr. Jorgensen represented himself.
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