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George J. Fair (WSBA No. 2967, admitted 1954), of Bellevue, was suspended for six months, effective December 23, 2004, by order of the Washington State Supreme Court following a stipulation approved by the Disciplinary Board. This discipline was based on his violation of a temporary restraining order in 2003.
In 2003, Mr. Fair's spouse commenced a dissolution-of-marriage proceeding in King County Superior Court. In August 2003, the court issued a restraining order prohibiting Mr. Fair from, inter alia, "molesting or disturbing the peace" of his spouse. Despite his knowledge of the order, Mr. Fair had contact with his spouse in violation of the restraining order. During the incident, Mr. Fair threatened his spouse verbally and punched her in the face. As a result, in June 2004, Mr. Fair was convicted of felony violation of a domestic-violence court order in violation of RCW 26.50.110.
Mr. Fair's conduct violated RPC 8.4(b), prohibiting a lawyer from committing a criminal act that reflects adversely on the lawyer's honesty, trustworthiness, or fitness as a lawyer in other respects; and RPC 8.4(i), which prohibits a lawyer from committing any act of unjustified assault, whether committed in the course of his or her conduct as a lawyer or otherwise, and whether the act constitutes a felony or a misdemeanor or not.
Joanne S. Abelson represented the Bar Association. Mr. Fair represented himself. |