Discipline Notice - E A. Williams

License Number: 30361
Member Name: E A. Williams
Discipline Detail
Action: Suspension
Effective Date: 3/3/2005
RPC: 1.8 - (prior to 9/1/2006) Conflict of Interest; Prohibited Transactions; Current Client
Discipline Notice:
Description: E. Armstrong Williams (WSBA No. 30361, admitted 2000), of Spokane, was suspended for 60 days, effective March 3, 2005, by order of the Washington State Supreme Court following a hearing. This discipline was based on his conduct in 2001 involving sexual relations with a client.

Commencing in 2000, Mr. Williams represented a client concerning a sexual harassment claim against the client’s former employer and job supervisor. In January and February 2001, Mr. Williams and the client had extensive telephone contact in the evenings and on weekends and socialized with one another at night clubs. On two separate occasions in January and February 2001, at Mr. Williams’s residence, Mr. Williams had sexual relations with the client. After disclosing the facts regarding the sexual relations to her therapist and her spouse, the client terminated the representation and hired another lawyer.

Mr. Williams’s conduct violated RPC 1.8(k), prohibiting a lawyer from having sexual relations with a current client unless a consensual sexual relationship existed between them at the time the lawyer/client relationship commenced.

Leslie Ching Allen and Marsha A. Matsumoto represented the Bar Association. Lewis M. Wilson represented Mr. Williams. David A. Thorner was the hearing officer.


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