Washington

Caught in Car-Keying Sting, Tearful Lawyer Takes Plea, Gets Community Service

Initially charged with a felony for “keying” several badly parked cars in a downtown parking garage and leaving rude notes for their drivers, a Seattle lawyer tearfully pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor today in King County Superior Court. Ronald Clarke Mattson, 63, told the judge he has “taken the steps…

Jun 10, 2011 1:40 AM CDT

Lawyer Convicted of Theft re 900 Free Calls Between Inmates and Her Roommate Gets Community Service

A suspended Washington state lawyer convicted of theft for allowing jail inmates to use her attorney phone privileges to make more than 900 free calls has been sentenced to community service and $2,290 restitution. Kimberly Grijalva, 41, was also convicted after a bench trial last month of a misdemeanor contraband…

Jun 7, 2011 6:54 PM CDT

Law Firm Employees Accused of Stealing $130K They Allegedly Persuaded Clients to Give Them in Cash

Two employees of a Washington state immigration law firm are accused of pocketing $130,000 that they persuaded clients to give them in cash, supposedly to speed the clients’ cases along. Defendants Burton Tong and Masie Delgado have been charged with theft, the Seattle PI reported. They worked for Bart Klein…

Jun 7, 2011 6:16 PM CDT

Sting with ‘Bait Car’ Snags Lawyer Accused of Keying Poorly Parked Vehicles

Updated: A Seattle lawyer who drives a Porsche has been accused of keying three poorly parked cars and leaving snarky notes criticizing the drivers. Ronald Clarke Mattson was charged with second-degree mischief in a sting involving a “bait car” straddling the lines of two spaces at Seattle’s Columbia Center, report…

Jun 2, 2011 10:23 AM CDT

Homeless Nonlawyer Accused of Seeking Legal Clients Through Parental Alienation Group

A homeless nonlawyer in Washington State offered his legal services through a parental alienation group and a website, taking fees from at least two would-be clients, prosecutors say. Arnold “Arnie” Newman Jr. has been charged with two counts of first-degree theft and two counts of unlawful practice of law, SeattlePI.com…

May 24, 2011 1:02 PM CDT

Inmate Who Allegedly Stabbed Lawyer with Pencil Accused of Repeat Assault on New Counsel

A Washington state inmate apparently has a problem with lawyers and pencils. The Snohomish County inmate, Joshua Monson, 27, was assigned a new lawyer on Thursday after he was accused of stabbing his first attorney with a pencil in court last Monday. On Friday, Monson was appearing in a court…

May 16, 2011 10:59 AM CDT

Reportedly Stabbed in Neck by Client with Pencil During Court Hearing, Lawyer Stays on Case

A Washington state lawyer was stabbed in the neck with a pencil by his client during a hearing yesterday at the Snohomish County courthouse, reports the Daily Herald. However, attorney Edward Cox wasn’t seriously hurt. He declined to comment because the alleged assailant, who is a defendant in a criminal…

May 10, 2011 5:26 PM CDT

Secret Jury-Select Plan Appealed in Casey Anthony Murder Case; Similar Issue Wins Reversal in Wash.

As some media organizations today appealed a Florida judge’s rules for offsite jury selection in an upcoming high-profile murder trial, an appeals court in a different state yesterday reversed an unrelated murder conviction because the trial judge briefly closed the courtroom during jury selection. The appeal concerning secret jury selection…

May 3, 2011 11:16 PM CDT

Nixing Shock-Sleeve, Therapy Dog Options to Keep Murder Defendant Quiet, Judge Bans Him from Court

A Washington state court judge had a number of possible options for attempting to keep a boisterous defendant quiet during his upcoming murder trial. Among the possibilities were a therapy dog or a sleeve through which a court officer could have administered a shock every time accused killer Isaiah Kalebu…

Apr 25, 2011 7:29 PM CDT

Judge Must Decide If Toy Store’s Giant Purple Octopus Mural is Regulated By Sign Ordinance

Suffice it to say that some in Walla Walla, Wash., are not fans of a giant cartoon-like mural featuring a purple octopus that is painted on the facade of a toy store building. But is the depiction a sign or a work of art protected by the First Amendment? That…

Apr 21, 2011 4:45 PM CDT

Meet Eric Lindell, Solo Who Takes Tough Cases and Hates to Lose

Eric Lindell was never a particularly good student, although he excelled in basketball and track in high school. In law school, only the opportunity to try cases as an intern for the local prosecutor captured his interest. But as a solo Washington state criminal defense lawyer, taking the cases nobody…

Apr 18, 2011 8:29 PM CDT

Lawyer Convicted of Felony Theft re 900 Free Phone Calls Made by Gang Members from Jail

A Washington state criminal defense attorney is facing likely law license repercussions after being convicted yesterday in a bench trial of felony theft for allowing two jailed gang members who had been dating her housemate to make over 900 free phone calls from the Yakima County jail. Kimberly Grijalva, 41,…

Apr 12, 2011 11:47 AM CDT

Hundreds of Wash. Convictions to Be Reversed, Due to Questioning of Prospective Jurors in Chambers

Already busy with existing cases, prosecutors and defense lawyers in Washington state are facing increased workloads due to a deluge of felony convictions, including in rape and murder cases, being reversed because of faulty jury selection practices. At least 17 convictions in Whatcom County have been reversed after prospective jurors…

Apr 11, 2011 11:56 AM CDT

6 Partners Exit K&L Gates to Form Pacifica Law Group

Six partners in the Seattle office of K&L Gates have exited the firm in order to form their own new shop. Pacifica Law Group, which includes a number of lawyers with expertise as bond counsel, will focus on private and public sector clients in the Pacific Northwest, reports the Puget…

Apr 5, 2011 6:24 PM CDT

Jury Finds Denny’s Liable for $46M in Restaurant Shooting

A Seattle jury has awarded more than $46 million to a Bible college graduate who was left a paraplegic after a shooting at a Denny’s in Kent, Wash., that had attracted rowdy bar customers with a history of fighting. Denny’s will not appeal as part of an agreement with plaintiff…

Feb 8, 2011 3:33 PM CST