Discipline Notice - Virginia Coop-Ullman

License Number: 19378
Member Name: Virginia Coop-Ullman
Discipline Detail
Action: Censure
Effective Date: 10/19/2001
RPC: 1.3 - Diligence
1.4 - Communication
Discipline Notice:
Description: Virginia Coop-Ullman (WSBA No. 19378, admitted 1990), of Kent, received a censure following a hearing in 2001. This discipline was based on her failure to diligently represent and adequately communicate with a client from 1997 though 1999.

In August 1997, Ms. Coop-Ullman agreed to represent the husband in a marital-dissolution action. In September 1999, Ms. Coop-Ullman failed to appear for a contempt hearing against her client. She also failed to attend the settlement conference and timely file required witness and exhibit lists. On the original trial date, Ms. Coop-Ullman requested a continuance. The court granted a 15-day continuance and imposed $100 in sanctions.

On November 16, 1999, the court informed Ms. Coop-Ullman that the trial would be held on November 22. Ms. Coop-Ullman did not inform her client of this continuance. Neither Ms. Coop-Ullman nor her client appeared for the trial date. The court entered an order of default and signed the final orders prepared by the wife’s lawyer. Ms. Coop-Ullman received copies of the final orders in late November, but did not contact her client until December 1999. She took no steps to cure or revise the orders. The sanction imposed in this matter considered significant mitigating factors.

Ms. Coop-Ullman’s conduct violated RPCs 1.3, requiring lawyers to diligently represent their clients; and 1.4, requiring lawyers to keep clients reasonably informed of the status of their matters.

Jonathan Burke represented the Bar Association. Kurt Bulmer represented Ms. Coop-Ullman. The hearing officer was Lish Whitson.


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