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Michael Primont (WSBA No. 20568, admitted
1991) of Seattle, was disbarred, effective June
2, 2011, by order of the Washington State
Supreme Court following approval of a stipulation.
Mr. Primont affirmatively admitted that if
the matter were to proceed to a public hearing,
there is a substantial likelihood the Bar Association
could prove by a clear preponderance
of the evidence the facts and misconduct, but
did not affirmatively admit to the facts and
misconduct herein. This discipline is based
on conduct involving immigration fraud. According
to the Stipulated Facts:
Since 2005, Ms. X has worked for Mr.
Primont as a paralegal. Mr. Primont
paid Ms. X $7,000 to marry Mr. W, an
alien from China. On April 23, 2007, Ms.
X and Mr. W were married in Las Vegas,
Nevada. Mr. Primont was a witness to
their marriage. Section 245(a) of the Immigration
and Nationality Act prohibits
an alien from seeking to procure a visa
by fraud or willfully misrepresenting
a material fact. On December 17,
2007, Citizenship and lmmigration
Services (CIS) officers conducted an
unannounced visit to Ms. X’s residence
in Kent, Washington. Ms. X admitted
that her marriage to Mr. W was a sham,
that the only purpose of the marriage
was to aid Mr. W’s immigration case,
and that Mr. Primont and Mr. W were in
a relationship. On January 28, 2008, Ms.
X filed for dissolution from Mr. W and
the case concluded in May 2008. Ms. X
withdrew her I-864 Affidavit of Support.
In May 2008, Mr. Primont and Mr. W
entered into a domestic partnership
in Washington State. In July 2008, Mr.
Primont married Mr. W in the State of
California. In April 2009, Mr. W’s I-485
application to register permanent
residence or adjust status was denied
by CIS on the basis of the fraudulent
marriage. On November 18, 2010, the
immigration judge accepted a prehearing
stipulation and granted Mr.
W voluntary departure to China in
lieu of removal on or before December
20, 2010.
Mr. Primont’s conduct violated RPC 8.4(c),
prohibiting a lawyer from engaging in conduct
involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation.
Erica W. Temple represented the Bar Association.
Kurt M. Bulmer represented Mr. Primont. |