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Graeme H. Strickland Jr. (WSBA No. 4977, admitted 1973), of Lake Oswego, Oregon, was suspended for one year, effective March 16, 2006, by order of the Washington State Supreme Court imposing reciprocal discipline in accordance with an order of the Supreme Court of the State of Oregon following a hearing. This discipline was based on his conduct in 2003 involving criminal convictions for improper use of the emergency reporting system, initiating a false report, and disorderly conduct.
In August 2002, Mr. Strickland learned that the city of Lake Oswego was planning to build a reservoir across the street from his home. For a time, Mr. Stickland observed the construction workers, took pictures, and recorded notes in a journal. Mr. Strickland subsequently sent several letters to the city’s attorney and the city’s contractor to put them “on notice” of a potential tort claim. Mr. Strickland wrote at least 10 separate letters, complaining of disturbances from the construction workers and claiming that the construction workers were “retaliating against him.” In March 2003, Mr. Strickland felt vibrations in his home that he associated with the construction site. He drove his car near the construction site and parked in the middle of an intersection. A construction worker asked him to move the car because he was parked in a work zone. Rather than move his car, Mr. Strickland left it in the intersection and walked back to his home, where he dialed 911. He asked the dispatcher to send the police because he was surrounded by construction vehicles and being threatened. Mr. Strickland then returned to the intersection, and lunged at one of the construction workers. Although no physical contact occurred, Mr. Strickland fell backwards to the ground and began screaming that his back was injured. A Lake Oswego police officer arrived. Mr. Strickland told the officer that the construction worker had assaulted him and thrown him to the ground. The officer notified Mr. Strickland that making a false report is a criminal act, but Mr. Strickland persisted in his story and refused to leave. Paramedics arrived and Mr. Strickland told them that the construction worker had assaulted him. Mr. Strickland then appeared to have a seizure, stiffening and trembling. Immediately thereafter, he sat up, appeared alert, and said that he was going home. Although the attending paramedic believed that Mr. Strickland had feigned the seizure, the paramedics transported Mr. Strickland to the emergency room because he continued to state that he was in pain. There, doctors found no evidence of physical injury.
In connection with these events, Mr. Strickland was charged with and convicted by a jury of three misdemeanors in Lake Oswego Municipal Court: violation of ORS 165.570, improper use of emergency reporting system; ORS 162.375, initiating a false report; and ORS 166.025, disorderly conduct.
Mr. Strickland’s conduct violated Oregon DR 1-102(A)(2), prohibiting a lawyer from committing a criminal act that reflects adversely on the lawyer’s honesty, trustworthiness, or fitness to practice law; and DR 1-102(A)(3), prohibiting a lawyer from engaging in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation.
Felice P. Congalton represented the Bar Association. Mr. Strickland represented himself. |