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Jeffrey L. Willis (WSBA No. 27750, admitted 1998), of Thousand Oaks, CA, was reprimanded, effective May 24, 2004, by order of the Washington State Supreme Court imposing reciprocal discipline based on an order for similar discipline from the state of California. This discipline was based on his conduct between 1996 and 1998, involving lack of competence in two personal-injury matters.
Matter 1: In May 1997, Mr. Willis filed a lawsuit for a client in a personal-injury matter. On April 3, 1998, the court sent Mr. Willis an Order to Show Cause why the case should not be dismissed for lack of prosecution. As of this date, Mr. Willis had not served the lawsuit. Mr. Willis did not attend the show cause hearing, oppose the motion to dismiss, or notify his client of the dismissal. Mr. Willis took prompt and appropriate steps to reinstate the lawsuit.
Matter 2: In February 1996, Mr. Willis filed a lawsuit for a client in a personal-injury matter. The defendant answered the lawsuit in April 1996. After this date, Mr. Willis did not actively prosecute the client's case. In August 1996, the court sent Mr. Willis an Order to Show Cause why the case should not be dismissed for lack of prosecution. Mr. Willis did not attend the show cause hearing, oppose the motion, or notify his client of the dismissal. Mr. Willis did not take steps to protect his client's interests after the dismissal.
Mr. Willis's conduct violated California Rule of Professional Conduct 3-110(A), requiring lawyers to competently represent their clients; and California Business and Professions Code § 6068(m), requiring lawyers to keep clients reasonably informed of significant developments in clients' cases.
Felice Congalton represented the Bar Association. Mr. Willis represented himself. |