Discipline Notice - James J. Raffa

License Number: 20394
Member Name: James J. Raffa
Discipline Detail
Action: Admonition
Effective Date: 8/12/2025
RPC: 1.4 - Communication
1.5 - Fees
Discipline Notice: Hearing Officer's Decision
Disciplinary Board Order
Admonition
Description: James Joseph Raffa (WSBA No. 20394, admitted 1991) of Tacoma, WA, was ordered to receive an admonition on 8/12/2025. Benjamin Attanasio and Henry Cruz acted as disciplinary counsel. Jeffrey T Kestle represented Respondent.
The lawyer’s conduct violated the following Rules of Professional Conduct: 1.4 (Communication) and 1.5 (Fees).
In connection with Raffa’s representation of clients in personal injury matters, the Disciplinary Board issued an admonition. The Board found that Raffa: 1) provided settlement authorization forms that omitted an explicit statement that he would retain a one-third contingency fee from reimbursement payments to the clients’ insurers, thereby producing inconsistent and potentially misleading settlement documents despite other communications that disclosed the retention, and 2) shared legal fees with another attorney in multiple client matters, both of whom had signed fee agreements with the clients, without obtaining the clients’ written consent to the division of fees, as required by the Rules of Professional Conduct.
Decision documents: Hearing Officer’s Decision; Disciplinary Board Order Amending Hearing Officer’s Decision; and Admonition.


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