No Gifts On Fathers Day

The Washington State Supreme Court has disbarred an attorney for pressing a variety of frivolous claims in actions arising out of a divorce, willfully disobeying court orders and filing frivolous suits against judges.

The unusual part?

It was the divorce of his own parents.

The attorney was admitted in 2002. He (along with his brother) represented their mother against their father.

 Among the frivolous lawsuits were a series of cases alleging illegal wiretaps by the father.

The court here rejected a number of challenges.

The attorney asserted that he was denied the right to confront and cross-examine the judges who imposed sanctions against him. The court found that the claim was largely unpreserved and without merit. Likewise the court found that hearsay evidence was properly used to establish the violations.

In sum

[The attorney] assigns error to about 180 findings of fact and conclusions of law. It is [his] burden to make persuasive arguments regarding each contested factual finding, with specific citations to the record. [He] fails to do this. In addition, his constitutional and evidentiary arguments are meritless.

The hearing officer recommended disbarment. A unanimous Board adopted the recommendation. We will uphold a unanimous board decision in the absence of a clear reason for departure. [He] has given none, nor have we found any. We uphold the recommendation of disbarment. (case and record citations omitted)

The oral argument before the court is linked here.

The court order remanding an earlier disbarment recommendation is linked here. The remand order notes that the attorney practices in Oregon and was admitted in Washington State in order to undertake his mother’s case. (Mike Frisch)