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Nathan W. Choi (WSBA No. 41610, admitted 2009) of Honolulu, HI, resigned in lieu of discipline, effective 11/12/2021. Choi agrees that he is aware of the alleged misconduct in disciplinary counsel’s Statement of Alleged Misconduct and rather than defend against the allegations, wishes to permanently resign from membership in the Association. The Statement of Alleged Misconduct reflects the following violations of the Rules of Professional Conduct: 3.3 (Candor Toward the Tribunal), 8.2 (Judicial and Legal Officials), 8.4(b) (Criminal Act), 8.4(c) (Dishonesty, Fraud, Deceit or Misrepresentation), 8.4(d) (Prejudicial to the Admin of Justice), 8.4(i) (Moral Turpitude, Corruption or Disregard of Rule of Law), 8.4(j) (Violate a Court Order), 8.4(l) (ELC violation), 8.4(m) (Violate the Code of Judicial Conduct).
Choi’s alleged misconduct, as stated in disciplinary counsel’s Statement of Alleged Misconduct, related to his candidacy with King County Elections for the office of Court of Appeals Judge in 2017 and for a position on the Washington Supreme Court in 2018, and for actions related to his divorce. Choi’s alleged misconduct includes: 1) as a candidate for the Court of Appeals, failing to comply with the applicable filing and disclosure laws and regulations and/or failing to file the reports required by law; 2) failing to respond to written requests for a response to a grievance; 3) as a candidate for the Supreme Court, failing to comply with applicable filing and disclosure laws and regulations, and/or failing to file the reports required by law; 4) completing and filing the Excise Tax Affidavit that falsely stated that the transfer to Choi’s girlfriend was exempt from tax because it was to separate community property; 5) transferring real property to Choi’s girlfriend for significantly less than its value in order to avoid any judgment entered by the dissolution proceeding’s Special Master and/or any obligation owed to his ex-wife, and/or to avoid payment of excise tax; 6) transferring real property to Choi’s girlfriend for significantly less than its value which resulted in Choi’s ex-wife filing a lawsuit against him to undo the transaction; 7) filing the declaration of Choi’s mother, purportedly signed by her in Honolulu, HI, when the statement was false; 8) filing the dissolution petition which contained false statements; 9) filing the affidavit of service stating that he had personally served Choi’s ex-wife’s counsel with the notice of bond, when the statement was false; 10) providing and filing financial statements that failed to disclose a bank account in Hawaii containing over $128,000; 11) registering vehicles in Oregon using a fake Oregon address to avoid taxes on the vehicles he purchased; 12) willfully disobeying the requirement in the Decree of Dissolution that he hire a CPA to prepare all tax returns from 2009 through 2015; and 13) failing to timely file and pay Federal, Hawaii, Washington, and Bellevue taxes.
Debra Slater and Benjamin J. Attanasio acted as disciplinary counsel. Randolph Petgrave, III was the hearing officer. Karen A. Clark was the settlement hearing officer. Nathan W. Choi represented himself. The online version of Washington State Bar News contains a link to the following document: Resignation Form of Nathan W. Choi ELC 9.3(b)).
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