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Nichole Danelle Fisher (WSBA No. 54253, admitted 2018) of Lakewood, WA, was suspended for 30 months, effective 3/04/2026, by order of the Washington Supreme Court. Thea Jennings and Kathy Jo Blake acted as disciplinary counsel. Nichole Danelle Fisher represented themselves. Diana Marie Dearmin was the hearing officer.
The lawyer’s conduct violated the following Rules of Professional Conduct: 1.3 (Diligence), 1.4 (Communication), 1.5 (Fees), 1.8 (Conflict of Interest: Current Clients: Specific Rules), 1.16 (Declining or Terminating Representation), 3.3 (Candor Toward the Tribunal), 4.1 (Truthfulness in Statements to Others), 8.1 (Bar Admission and Disciplinary Matters), 8.4(c) (Dishonesty, Fraud, Deceit or Misrepresentation), 8.4(d) (Prejudicial to the Admin of Justice), 8.4(l) (ELC violation) and 8.4(n) (Unfitness to Practice Law).
Fisher stipulated to suspension for: 1) failing to attend a client’s pretrial hearing, 2) accepting payment for a client’s representation from the client’s relative without the client’s informed consent, 3) making one or more false statements to the client and the prosecuting attorney, 4) telling the court a false statement that Respondent got a flat tire on the way to court on May 28, 2024, 5) making one or more false statements to ODC during the grievance investigation, 6) failing to object to the state’s proposed restitution order, failing to file any pleading in response to the state’s proposed restitution order, and failing to appear at a restitution hearing, 7) failing to timely provide the medical providers with a client’s police reports and by
failing to attend one or more court hearings, 8) failing to appear at one or more court hearings in a client’s criminal matter and failing to appear at the DOL hearing, 9) collecting $3,500 from a client then failing to perform any work on the matter that was of any value to the client, 10) failing to appear at a client’s arraignment, 11) collecting a $5,000 flat fee from the client and then failing to complete the representation on the criminal matter, 12) collecting $10,000 from a client and then failing to perform any work on the matters that was of value to the client, 13) failing to appear at one or more hearings in a client’s criminal matter, 14) collecting a $4,375 flat fee from the client and then failing to complete the
representation on the criminal matter, 15) telling the client that the prosecutor had offered a plea to a reduced charge when no such offer had been made and by making one or more false statements to the client about the status of plea negotiations, 16) failing to file a notice of appearance in a DUI matter and by failing to assist a client in obtaining a continuance of the client’s arraignment date in the DUI matter, 17) collecting a $6,000 flat fee from the client and then failing to perform any work on the criminal matter, 18) failing to respond to the client’s reasonable requests for information and by failing to adequately explain the matter to the client to the extent reasonably necessary for the client to make informed decisions regarding the representation in eight client matters, 19) failing to refund unearned fees in six client matters, 20) failing to provide a prompt response to five grievances, failing to provide documents responsive to a subpoena, and by failing to appear at the May 7, 2025 and July 28, 2025 depositions, 21) committing the acts described in paragraphs 2-141 of the Stipulation to Suspension, Fisher demonstrated unfitness to practice law.
Decision documents: Disciplinary Board Order Approving Stipulation; Stipulation to Suspension; and Washington Supreme Court Order.
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