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Sarah Louise Hurst (WSBA No. 29489, admitted 1999), of Berks, England, was disbarred, 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 her conduct between 2001 and 2003 involving unauthorized use of funds belonging to two law firms and to an organization for which she served as president and treasurer.
Between 2001 and 2004, Ms. Hurst was successively employed as an associate by two Everett law firms. While employed at both firms, Ms. Hurst deposited fees received from clients into her personal checking account rather than a firm account.
In 2002 and 2003, during her tenure as president and treasurer of a local chapter of a statewide law-related organization, Ms. Hurst issued a number of checks from the organization’s account to herself. Ms. Hurst also used the organization’s funds to purchase $1,200 in money orders payable to a personal creditor. Ms. Hurst additionally reported that a $2,000 scholarship awarded by the organization had been paid in 2003, but she did not in fact provide the funds to the recipient until 2004. Ms. Hurst did not have the organization’s authority to use its funds for her personal expenses.
Ms. Hurst’s conduct violated RPC 8.4(c), which prohibits a lawyer from engaging in conduct involving dishonesty, deceit, fraud, or misrepresentation; and RPC 8.4(n), which prohibits a lawyer from engaging in conduct demonstrating an unfitness to practice law.
Linda B. Eide represented the Bar Association. Ms. Hurst represented herself. |