| Description: |
Donald B. Lundahl (WSBA No. 21424, admitted 1992), of Lacey, was suspended for 90 days, effective September 19, 2005, by order of the Washington State Supreme Court following a stipulation approved by the Disciplinary Board. This discipline was based on his conduct in 2002 and 2004 involving the commission of two assaults and the violation of a court order.
In November 2002, Mr. Lundahl was charged with simple assault/domestic violence in Thurston County based on an altercation during which he kneed his daughter in the lower chest or abdominal area, pushed her to the ground, and punched her in the face several times. One of the conditions of the court’s pretrial order was that Mr. Lundahl abstain from the consumption of alcohol and non-prescription drugs. In June 2004, while the charges were pending, Mr. Lundahl consumed alcohol. That same day, Mr. Lundahl got into an altercation with his son, during which he grabbed the son’s throat with both hands, pushed him up against a wall, and pushed him down to the ground. Mr. Lundahl was again charged with simple assault/domestic violence. Subsequently, Mr. Lundahl entered pleas of guilty to two counts of simple assault.
Mr. Lundahl’s conduct violated RPC 8.4(b), prohibiting a lawyer from committing a criminal act (here, assault) that reflects adversely on the lawyer’s honesty, trustworthiness, or fitness as a lawyer in other respects; RPC 8.4(i), prohibiting a lawyer from committing any act involving any unjustified act of assault or other act that reflects disregard for the rule of law; and RPC 8.4(j), prohibiting a lawyer from willfully disobeying or violating a court order directing him or her to do or cease doing an act which he or she ought in good faith to do or forbear.
Sachia Stonefeld Powell represented the Bar Association. Leland G. Ripley represented Mr. Lundahl.
|