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Charles David Fornero (WSBA No. 20971, admitted 1991), of Seattle, has been disbarred by the Washington Supreme Court effective June 24, 1998. He was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $9,801.50, pursuant to RLD 5.3, and costs and expenses in the amount of $1,918.82, pursuant to RLD 5.7. The Order of Disbarment was entered after a default hearing and was based upon the Hearing Officer’s Findings and Conclusions that Fornero committed 22 counts of ethical misconduct. The Disciplinary Board approved the Hearing Officer’s recommendation of disbarment and restitution. The discipline is based upon findings that Fornero lacked competence (RPC 1.1), failed to abide by clients’ decisions regarding the scope of representation (RPC 1.2), continued to neglect eight client matters (RPC 1.3), failed to comply with his clients’ reasonable requests for information (RPC 1.4), failed to withdraw or return unearned fees (RPC 1.15), and his misrepresentation to clients about the status of their cases (RPC 8.4(c)).
In August 1995, Fornero moved out of his Federal Way office without informing his clients. He did not keep his clients apprised of the status of their cases, he missed court appointments, and then he made misrepresentations to his clients to hide this neglect. He failed to expedite litigation and he tendered a settlement offer without his client’s consent, and after his services had been terminated.
The Hearing Officer was Bradford N. Cattle of Everett. Respondent did not appear for the hearing. Disciplinary Counsel Bernadette Janét represented the Bar Association.
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