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Paul Arnold Wallstrom (WSBA No. 8605, admitted 1978) of Seattle, was disbarred, effective 4/10/2025, by order of the Washington Supreme Court. Benjamin Attanasio acted as disciplinary counsel. Kurt M. Bulmer represented the respondent. Henry Edward Stiles II was the hearing officer. James D. Hicks was the settlement hearing officer.
The lawyer’s conduct violated the following Rules of Professional Conduct: 1.15A Safeguarding Property, 1.15B Required Trust Account Records, 8.4(b) Criminal Act and 8.4(c) Dishonesty, Fraud, Deceit or Misrepresentation.
Wallstrom was found to have violated the Rules of Professional Conduct by: 1) using and converting client and third person funds; 2) failing to maintain client and third person fonds in a trust account; 3) disbursing more funds than clients had on deposit and by using one client's funds on behalf of another; 4) failing to promptly pay and/or deliver funds that clients and third persons were entitled to receive; 5) failing to maintain a check register or equivalent for each trust account, including entries for all receipts, disbursements, and transfers, and containing at least the detail required by RPC 1.15B(a)(l)(i) through (v), and individual client ledger records containing either a separate page for each client or an equivalent electronic record showing individual receipts, disbursements, or transfers, and containing the detail required by RPC l.15B(a)(2)(i) through (v), and 6) failing to reconcile Respondent’s trust account check register to the bank statements and by failing to reconcile the trust account check register to the client ledgers.
Decision documents: Hearing Officer’s Amended Decision; Disciplinary Board Order Adopting Hearing Officer’s Decision; and Washington Supreme Court Order.
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