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Todd W. Wetsel (WSBA No. 20720, admitted 1991), of Portland, Oregon, was suspended for 18 months, effective September 13, 2007, by order of the Washington State Supreme Court in accordance with an order of the Supreme Court of the State of Oregon following a hearing. This discipline was based on conduct involving lack of competence, neglect of a legal matter, lack of communication, failure to deposit funds into trust, failure to return client property, failure to respond to the Bar, and conduct involving dishonesty or misrepresentation. For more information, see Oregon State Bar Bulletin (July 2007), available at www.osbar.org/publications/bulletin/07jul/discipline.html.
Mr. Wetsel’s conduct violated Oregon Code of Professional Responsibility (DR) 6-101(A) and RPC 1.1, requiring a lawyer to provide competent representation to a client; Oregon (DR) 6-101(B), prohibiting a lawyer from neglecting a legal matter entrusted to the lawyer; Oregon (DR) 9-101(A), requiring that all funds of clients paid to a lawyer or law firm be deposited and maintained in one or more identifiable trust accounts in the state in which the law office is situated; Oregon 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; Oregon RPC 1.7(a)(2), prohibiting a lawyer from representing a client if the representation involves a current conflict of interest; Oregon RPC 1.15-1(d), stating that a lawyer shall promptly deliver to the client or third person any funds or other property that the client or third person is entitled to receive; Oregon RPC 8.1(a)(2), prohibiting a lawyer, in connection with a disciplinary matter, from knowingly failing to respond to a lawful demand for information from disciplinary authority; and Oregon RPC 8.4(a)(3), prohibiting a lawyer from engaging in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation that reflects adversely on the lawyer’s fitness to practice law.
Felice P. Congalton represented the Bar Association. Mr. Wetsel represented himself. |