| Description: |
Gregory L. Samuels (WSBA No. 19497, admitted 1990), of Vancouver, B.C., Canada, has been suspended by order of the Supreme Court of Washington, dated February 11, 2000. The Supreme Court’s order of reciprocal discipline, pursuant to RLD 12.6, is based on the Hearing Panel for the Law Society of British Columbia’s October 8, 1999 order for a 90-day suspension. The Washington Supreme Court ordered that Mr. Samuels’ Washington suspension run concurrently with the British Columbia suspension.
In 1996, Mr. Samuels represented two clients in an assault case in Delta Provincial Court. He intended to obtain diversion for these clients. In March 1996, The Crown advised Mr. Samuels that diversion would not be acceptable. In May 1996, three days prior to trial, Mr. Samuels applied to the Court to adjourn (continue) the trials. When it appeared that the Court would not grant the motion, Mr. Samuels told the Court that he had spoken with the clients’ mothers, and implied that his contact was recent. In fact, Mr. Samuels had not contacted the clients’ mothers for a considerable time prior to the hearing. Mr. Samuels later admitted to implying to the judge that he had recently spoken with his clients’ mothers, knowing that this was inaccurate. Mr. Samuels wrote a letter of apology to the judge and made changes in his practice. Mr. Samuels’ conduct was misleading and constituted professional misconduct.
Douglas J. Ende represented the Bar Association. Mr. Samuels represented himself.
|