IN THE MATTER OF THE ADOPTION OF THE AMENDMENTS TO APR 15, APR 15 PROCEDURAL RULES 1 AND 5

) )) )

ORDER NO. 25700-A-933

     The Washington State Bar Association having recommended the adoption of the proposed amendment to APR 15, APR 15 Procedural Rules 1 and 5, and the Court having determined that the proposed amendments will aid in the prompt and orderly administration of justice and further determined that an emergency exists which necessitates an early adoption;

     Now, therefore, it is hereby

     ORDERED:

     (a) That the amendments shown below are adopted.

     (b) That pursuant to the emergency provisions of GR 9 (j)(1), the amendment will be published expeditiously and become effective upon publication.

     DATED at Olympia, Washington this 5th day of November, 2009.

	Alexander, C. J.
C. Johnson, J.	Susan Owens
Madsen, J.	Fairhurst, J.
Sanders, J.	J. M. Johnson, J.
Chambers, J.	Stephens, J.

     (a) Purpose. [No change.]

     (b) Establishment. There is established the Lawyers' Fund for Client Protection (Fund). The Fund may be used for the purpose of relieving or mitigating a pecuniary loss sustained by any client by reason of the dishonesty of, or failure to account for money or property entrusted to, any member of the WSBA in connection with as a result of or directly related to the member's practice of law (as defined in GR 24) or while acting as a fiduciary in a matter directly related to the member's practice of law. The Fund may also be used to relieve or mitigate like loss sustained by persons by reason of similar acts of an individual who was at one time a member of the WSBA but who was, at the time of the act complained of, under court ordered suspension. The Fund shall not be used for the purpose of relieving any pecuniary loss resulting from an attorney's negligent performance of services or for acts performed after a member is disbarred. Payments from the Fund shall be considered gifts to the recipients and shall not be considered entitlements.

     (c) Funding. [No change.]

     (d) Enforcement. [No change.]

     (e) Restitution. [No change.]

     (f) Administration. [No change.]

     (g) Subpoenas. [No change.]

     (h) Reports. [No change.]

     (i) Communications to the Association. [No change.]

     B. Funds accruing and appropriated to the Fund may be used for the purpose of relieving or mitigating a pecuniary loss sustained by any person by reason of the dishonesty of, or failure to account for money or property entrusted to, any member of the WSBA in connection with as a result of or directly related to the member's practice of law (as defined in GR 24), or while acting as a fiduciary in a matter directly related to the member's practice of law. Such funds may also, through the Fund, be used to relieve or mitigate like losses sustained by persons by reason of similar acts of an individual who was at one time a member of the WSBA but who was at the time of the act complained of under a court ordered suspension.

***

***

     D. Excluded Losses. Except as provided by Section E of this Rule, the following losses shall not be reimbursable:

     (1) Losses incurred by related persons, law partners and associate attorneys of the lawyer causing the loss. For purposes of these Rules, "related persons" includes a spouse, domestic partner, child, grandchild, parent, grandparent, sibling, or other Relative or individual with whom the lawyer maintains a close, familial relationship;

     (2) Losses covered by any bond, surety agreement, or insurance contract to the extent covered thereby, including any loss to which any bonding agent, surety, or insurer is subrogated, to the extent of that subrogated interest;

     (3) Losses incurred by any financial institution which are recoverable under a "banker's blanket bond" or similar commonly available insurance or surety contract;

     (4) Losses incurred by any business entity controlled by the lawyer or any person or entity described in Rule 5 D (1), (2) or (3);

     (5) Losses incurred by an assignee, lienholder, or creditor of the applicant or lawyer, unless application has been made by the client or beneficiary or the client or beneficiary has authorized such reimbursement;

     (6) Losses incurred by any governmental entity or agency;

     (7) Losses arising from business or personal investments not arising in the course of or arising out of the client-lawyer relationship;

     (7) (8) Consequential damages, such as lost interest, or attorney's fees or other costs incurred in seeking recovery of a loss.

     Reviser's note: The typographical error in the above material occurred in the copy filed by the State Supreme Court and appears in the Register pursuant to the requirements of RCW 34.08.040.

     Reviser's note: The brackets and enclosed material in the text of the above section occurred in the copy filed by the agency and appear in the Register pursuant to the requirements of RCW 34.08.040.

© Washington State Code Reviser's Office