In re Olson

• Decision Date: 21 June 1921
• Docket Number: 340.
• Citation: 198 P. 742,116 Wash. 186
• Court: Washington Supreme Court
• Parties: In re OLSON.

198 P. 742

116 Wash. 186

In re OLSON.

No. 340.

Supreme Court of Washington

June 21, 1921

En Bane.

In the matter of the proceedings for the disbarment of George Olson attorney at law. The Board of Law Examiners recommended that the charges be dismissed, and the Seattle Bar Association filed objections and exceptions to the recommendations and findings of the Board of Law Examiners. Findings and recommendations of the Board of Law Examiners affirmed.

J. C Allen, Wm. R. Bell, and Tucker & Hyland, all of Seattle, for respondent.

HOLCOMB, J.

Proceedings were instituted before the state board of law examiners, upon a complaint against George Olson, for his disbarment from the practice of law in the state of Washington, the original complaint being upon two charges or counts. The first charge was that he perpetrated a fraud upon Henry J. Gorin, in that he induced Henry J. Gorin to execute his promissory note for $4,000 upon the representation that he would receive as consideration therefor 25 shares of the capital stock of the Broadway State Bank of Seattle, of the value of $160 per share, and would be employed by the bank as its attorney at a salary of $1,000 per annum. It was further alleged that confidential relations existed between Gorin and Olson, in that they had associated together in various capacities, and that by reason thereof Gorin believed the statements of Olson, and relied thereon, and delivered his note for the above amount to Olson, but never received the stock or the employment, and that the bank was then insolvent and the stock worthless, all of which was known to Olson.

The second charge in the original complaint was to the effect that Olson, as attorney in a certain cause, prepared findings of fact, conclusions of law, and decree in the superior court of Washington, for King county, which conformed with the decision of the court as orally announced, and upon which opposing counsel indorsed his approval, but that Olson did not present the decree, served by copy upon opposing counsel to the court, but presented one of a different purport, which was signed and filed.

A hearing was had upon the charges of the original complaint and the matter was taken under advisement by the board of law examiners. Thereafter another complaint was filed against Olson, charging him with mismanagement and breach of trust with reference to the handling of the estate of Hans Bergman, deceased, whereby he acquired and appropriated property belonging thereto to his own use, the charges in which complaint were heard by the board of law examiners at subsequent dates. After hearings on the complaints, the state being represented by counsel, the Seattle Bar Association by counsel, and Olson by counsel, the board of law examiners reported to this court that it----

'had carefully considered and weighed and oral and documentary evidence submitted relative to all the charges set forth in said complaints, and is of the opinion that the evidence submitted does not sustain any of said charges, and therefore recommends that said charges should be dismissed.'

Upon its findings and recommendations being filed, the Seattle Bar Association, by its attorney, filed objections and exceptions to the report and findings, and the...