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Washington Supreme Court Upholds Attorney Disbarment
In 1999, the Washington State Bar Association appointed GMT
partners Jeff Tilden and Frank Cordell as Special Disciplinary Counsel
to handle a proceeding against a Washington attorney. The respondent
attorney was charged with misconduct in connection with the handling
of his client's will and other financial affairs. In 2000, Jeff and
Frank conducted an evidentiary hearing in the matter, which resulted
in a recommendation that the respondent lawyer be disbarred.
Frank Cordell argued on behalf of the WSBA before the WSBA Disciplinary
Board, the next level of review in the attorney disciplinary process.
In a deeply split decision, the Disciplinary Board rejected the Hearing
Officer's recommendation of disbarment and instead imposed an 18-month
suspension.
GMT filed a Motion for Discretionary review with the Washington Supreme
Court, and the court granted review. Jeff Tilden argued before the
Supreme Court in February 2003. On April 24, 2003, the Supreme Court
reversed the Disciplinary Board's decision and reinstated the sanction
of disbarment. GMT Of Counsel Christie Snyder and associates Heather
Reed and Johanna Bender, and WSBA attorneys Joanne Abelson and Linda
Eide, contributed substantially to the briefing efforts and favorable
result.
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