January 2000

Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection

The Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection Committee meets quarterly to review applications for gifts from the Fund. The Committee is authorized to make gifts to qualified applicants of up to $3,000. On applications for more than $3,000, the Committee makes recommendations to the Board of Governors, who are the Fund’s Trustees. At their meeting on November 12, 1999, the Committee took the following action.
 
Irving Leroy Dane (WSBA No. 6587, Vancouver) – The Committee recommends payment of $30,000 and $10,494, respectively, to two clients in separate personal injury actions. In the first, an insurer paid $50,000, which the client endorsed to Dane for deposit in trust. Dane misappropriated the client’s funds, including using $25,000 for his house payment. The other involved a settlement payment of $22,872 in a personal injury action, which Dane did not disclose to the client. He misappropriated $10,494.
 
William R. Hebeler (WSBA No. 14373, Lynnwood; deceased) – Two applications approved. One recommends payment of $6,500 to immigration clients seeking resident alien visas. After his clients paid the fee, Hebeler abandoned the case, moved out of state, and did not return the unearned fee. In the other case, the client paid $500 to prepare an application for citizenship. Hebeler failed to prepare the application or perform any service to earn the fee.
 
Melinda Monet (WSBA No. 25676, Seattle; suspended) – (The Committee approved 28 applications from former clients of Monet’s during 1999.) Two applications were approved. One for $380 which had been paid to prepare and file a marriage dissolution; no service of value was performed, and fees were not returned. The second application was for $175 paid to Monet as a bankruptcy filing fee that she appropriated to her own use.
 
Jerold R. Weidenkopf (WSBA No. 12438, Tacoma; disbarred) – Approved payment of $450 to a client who paid Weidenkopf for representation in a parenting plan proceeding. His only actions on behalf of the client were to file a notice of appearance and subsequently a notice of withdrawal. He performed no services of value and failed to return the unearned fee.
 
The Committee also denied seven applications as fee disputes, two as malpractice, two because there was no evidence of a dishonest taking of funds, and one as moot, since restitution had been made. Committee members deferred action on one for further investigation.
 
In other business, the Committee reviewed the refusal of an applicant who was previously given $23,560 from the Fund to repay that amount pursuant to a subrogation agreement entered into with the Fund as a condition of payment.  The applicant received a $90,000 settlement from the lawyer’s insurer. The applicant is a lawyer in another jurisdiction, and the Committee voted to recommend to the Board of Governors that a disciplinary grievance be filed against the former applicant.

The Committee chair is Seattle attorney Barbara Selberg. WSBA General Counsel Robert Welden is staff liaison to the
Committee.

Back to table of contents >>