Walsh, In re, 3572

Decision Date05 June 1952
Docket NumberNo. 3572,3572
Citation244 P.2d 868,40 Wn.2d 593
CourtWashington Supreme Court
PartiesIn re WALSH.

A. Vernon Stoneman, Washington State Bar Ass'n, Seattle, for Bar ass'n.

OLSON, Justice.

This is a proceeding for the disbarment of the respondent, Robert George Walsh, who was admitted to the bar of this state February 24, 1950. Thereafter, he was associated continuously with C. A. Orndorff in the practice of law in Spokane, receiving a salary until April 1, 1951, when he began to share the net income of the office. He devoted most of his time to the adjustment and settlement of insurance subrogation claims.

August 15, 1951, he sent an envelope to Orndorff by messenger. It contained a number of office files of cases upon which he had been working, together with a letter in which he stated that he had embezzled a substantial sum of money in those cases. He also enclosed a deed to certain real property, which he instructed Orndorff to sell and apply the proceeds of the sale upon his account. He stated that he was not able to make further restitution, and that he intended to leave Spokane.

The state bar association instituted this proceeding by substituted service upon respondent pursuant to Rule 14 of the Rules for Discipline of Attorneys, 34A Wash.2d 186. A trial committee of the association, after a hearing, found that the respondent had converted the sum of $2,572.07 to his own use, of which amount $1,946.32 was the property of clients, the balance being fees belonging to himself and Orndorff. It further found that the sum of $606.35 was obtained from the sale of respondent's real property by Orndorff, who credited this amount upon the shortages and paid the balance of the defalcations to the proper parties.

Respondent has not been heard from since his letter of August 15, 1951, and has never appeared in this proceeding.

The findings of the trial committee and its recommendation that respondent be disbarred are concurred in by the board of governors of the state bar association. The findings are sustained by the evidence, and support the recommendation. The respondent has committed acts involving moral turpitude and dishonesty, and has violated his oath and duties as an attorney at law and as a member of the bar of this court. Such acts of misconduct are grounds for disbarment. RCW 2.48.220(3)(6) [cf. Rem.Rev.Stat., § 139-14], also found in Rule 10(3)(6) of the Rules for Discipline of Attorneys, 34A Wash.2d 183.

It is, therefore,...

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3 cases
  • Rosellini, Matter of
    • United States
    • Washington Supreme Court
    • May 20, 1982
    ...121 P.2d 953 (1942); In re McCoy, 20 Wash.2d 884, 146 P.2d 818 (1944); In re Grimm, 29 Wash.2d 147, 185 P.2d 990 (1947); In re Walsh, 40 Wash.2d 593, 244 P.2d 868 (1952); In re King, 42 Wash.2d 617, 257 P.2d 219 (1953); In re Park, 45 Wash.2d 383, 274 P.2d 1006 (1954); In re Dillard, 48 Was......
  • Simmons, In re, C
    • United States
    • Washington Supreme Court
    • March 27, 1962
    ...alleged restitution lacked $2,366.68 of being complete. In re Peterson, 56 Wash.2d 187, 351 P.2d 533 (1960). See, also, In re Walsh, 40 Wash.2d 593, 244 P.2d 868 (1952). We find no merit in this For the reasons stated, we adopt as our factual findings those of the Board of Governors. The oa......
  • Pool, In re, CD
    • United States
    • Washington Supreme Court
    • June 25, 1970
    ...noted above on June 23, 1969, and again on July 1, 1969. Such notice is sufficient under the conditions involved. See In re Walsh, 40 Wash.2d 593, 244 P.2d 868 (1952); In re Kosher, 61 Wash.2d 206, 377 P.2d 988 (1963). The hearing on this matter was duly held on July 23 and July 24, 1969, i......

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