| Description: |
Shane C. Han (WSBA No. 30466, admitted 2000), of Burnaby, British Columbia, was disbarred, effective August 16, 2007, by order of the Washington State Supreme Court following a hearing.
Between November 2000 and January 2003, Mr. Han engaged in the following conduct giving rise to the discipline:
• Charging unreasonable fees to two clients, one of which was a “shell” corporation formed by Mr. Han and associates in order to give the impression that it was a legitimate corporation pursuing public interest lawsuits;
• Bringing California Unfair Competition Law (UCL) lawsuits without merit and where there was no basis to do so, defrauding UCL defendants in order to generate income for himself and his law group, engaging in a course of conduct that involved dishonesty, and making numerous misrepresentations to UCL defendants during the course of the UCL litigation;
• Filing lawsuits on behalf of a client without authorization to do so and failing to pay over funds received in connection with lawsuits filed on behalf of two clients as named plaintiffs;
• Engaging in conduct demonstrating unfitness to practice law by developing and carrying out a “game plan,” which involved the manipulation of the legal system for his own personal gain; and
• Practicing law in California prior to his admission to the California Bar.
Mr. Han’s conduct violated RPC 1.5(a), requiring that a lawyer’s fee be reasonable; RPC 3.1, prohibiting a lawyer from bringing or defending a proceeding, or asserting or controverting an issue therein, unless there is a basis in law and fact for doing so that is not frivolous; RPC 4.1, prohibiting a lawyer, in the course of representing a client, from knowingly making a false statement of material fact or law to a third person or failing to disclose a material fact when disclosure is necessary to avoid assisting in a criminal or fraudulent act by a client; RPC 5.5, prohibiting a lawyer from engaging in the unauthorized practice of law or assisting another to do so; RPC 8.4(c), prohibiting a lawyer from engaging in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation; RPC 8.4(d), prohibiting a lawyer from engaging in conduct that is prejudicial to the administration of justice; RPC 8.4(i), prohibiting a lawyer from committing any act involving moral turpitude, or corruption, or any unjustified act of assault or other act which reflects disregard for the rule of law; and RPC 8.4(n), prohibiting a lawyer from engaging in conduct demonstrating unfitness to practice law.
Debra Jo Slater and Kathleen A.T. Dassel represented the Bar Association. Mr. Han represented himself. Julian C. Dewell was the hearing officer |