Discipline Notice - Alfredo Lopez

License Number: 17502
Member Name: Alfredo Lopez
Discipline Detail
Action: Suspension
Effective Date: 8/26/2005
RPC: 1.14 - (prior to 9/1/2006) Preserving Identity of Funds and Property of a Client
1.4 - Communication
Discipline Notice:
Description: Alfredo Lopez (WSBA No. 17502, admitted 1987), of Seattle, was suspended for three-years (less two months credit), effective August 26, 2005, to be followed by two years probation, by order of the Washington State Supreme Court following approval of a stipulation.

Between June 1999 and October 2001, Mr. Lopez engaged in the following conduct establishing grounds for discipline:

-Mr. Lopez disbursed $10,000 to himself from his trust account for his attorney¡¦s fees in a personal injury matter prior to depositing the $35,000 settlement check from that matter, which resulted in a shortfall of funds held in his trust account on behalf of other clients.

-Mr. Lopez failed to maintain $6,789.77 of a client¡¦s funds on deposit in his trust account.

-Mr. Lopez did not maintain adequate trust account records, resulting in an overpayment to himself of $786.80.

-Mr. Lopez failed to promptly pay a client, as requested by the client, all funds belonging to the client and being held in his trust account and failed to comply with requests by the client and her new counsel for information about the amount of the client¡¦s settlement.

Mr. Lopez¡¦s conduct violated RPC 1.4(a), requiring a lawyer to keep a client reasonably informed about the status of a matter and promptly comply with reasonable requests for information; RPC 1.14(a), requiring a lawyer or law firm to pay all funds of clients in one or more identifiable interest-bearing trust accounts maintained as set forth in the rules; RPC 1.14(b)(3), requiring a lawyer to maintain complete records of all funds, securities, and other properties of a client coming into the possession of the lawyer and render appropriate accounts to his or her client regarding them; and RPC 1.14(b)(4), requiring a lawyer to promptly pay or deliver to the client as requested by the client the funds, securities, or other properties in the possession of the lawyer which the client is entitled to receive.

Leslie C. Allen represented the Bar Association. George P. Trejo, Jr. represented Mr. Lopez.


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