| Description: |
Bremerton lawyer Eric H. Lind (WSBA No. 12142, admitted 1981) was ordered disbarred by the Washington Supreme Court on April 17, 1997. The order of the court was pursuant to a Stipulation to Disbarment, approved by the Disciplinary Board on March 27, 1997.
In two matters, in violation of RPC 1.4, 1.5, 8.4(b), 8.4(c). and 8.4(d), Lind created fictional documents relating to fictional lawsuits he claimed he was pursuing for his clients. These fictional documents included fictional court orders on which Lind had forged the signatures of state and federal judges and Washington Supreme Court Justices, fictional letters on which Lind had forged the signatures of state and federal judges, other lawyers, Assistant United States Attorneys, and federal investigators, and a fictional grand jury indictment. Lind presented these documents to his clients to convince them he had performed work on their behalf. His clients paid him for the work he had falsely represented had been done. In a third matter. in violation of RPC 8.4(b) and 8.4(c). Lind transferred to himself as "bonuses" funds totaling $44,521.94 from the law firm in which he acted as treasurer. These bonuses were unearned.
In a fourth matter, in violation of RPC1.4, 1.14(a), and 8.4(c), Lind advised a client that he had settled a lawsuit on his behalf, when in fact he had not initiated litigation on the client's behalf. He paid the client nearly $21,864.33 in ''settlement advances" with funds drawn from his law firm's general account. He then deposited $22,000 of his own money into his firm's trust account, representing to the firm's bookkeeper that the deposit had been made by the client's insurer.
In a fifth matter, in violation of RPC 1.4, 1.5, 8.4(b) and 8.4(c), Lind signed a contract with a state agency to act as an expert witness in a case. Lind billed the agency $26,054 for work which he claimed he had performed, when in fact he had not performed the work. The agency paid the bill.
In a sixth matter, in violation of RPC 1.4 and8.4(c), Lind created fictional documents relating to a lawsuit he actually was pursuing for a client. These documents included a fictional restraining order and a fictional order of contempt, purportedly signed by a state judge. Lind presented these documents to his client to convince him that he had performed work on his behalf.
Joanne S. Abelson represented the Bar Association in this matter. Mark G. Beard represented Lind.
|