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David E. Grashin (WSBA No. 19609, admitted 1990), of Seattle, has been suspended for 12 months by order of the Supreme Court effective March 4, 2002, following a hearing. This discipline is based on his failure to avoid conflicts of interest in 1997.
In early September 1997, Mr. Grashin agreed to meet a client to make some minor changes to his existing will. The original will left one-third of the client’s estate to the following three organizations: United Services Organization, Jewish Welfare Board and Mason Relief Organization Grand Lodge of Washington State. The client, who intended that the new will leave $10,000 per year to each of two children, died September 12.
The new will that Mr. Grashin had drafted included large gifts to a school and a synagogue that had not been included in the original will. Mr. Grashin’s children attended the school, his family attended the synagogue, and he had served on both boards. The new will also left one-time gifts of $10,000 each to the two children mentioned in the first will. The hearing officer found that Mr. Grashin intentionally failed to draft the will in accordance with the client’s stated intentions, did not explain his personal interests in these institutions to the client, and did not read the names and amounts of these bequests to the client during the will-signing.
Mr. Grashin’s conduct violated RPCs 1.2 and 8.4(c) by failing to abide by the client’s decisions concerning the representation; and 1.7(b), prohibiting lawyers from accepting representation of a client if the representation may be materially limited by the lawyer’s own interests, unless the client consents in writing after a full disclosure.
Becky Neal represented the Bar Association. Kurt Bulmer represented Mr. Grashin. The hearing officer was Lee Kraft.
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