Opinion ID: 1352489
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: the supreme court of washington

Text: In re: ) ) Bar No. 12531 Ben Lawrence Hankin, ) ) ORDER ON SHOW CAUSE HEARING Attorney at Law. ) ) _____________________) This matter came before the Court from the Washington State Bar Association Disciplinary Board filing with the Court an Order and Recommendation dated July 11, 1990, recommending suspension for one year, with a conditioned probation period. The vote on the recommendation was 8-3, with a dissenting opinion recommending disbarment. Two Board Members concurred with the dissent. The Supreme Court heard oral argument from Respondent Attorney's counsel, Thomas C. McCarthy and State Bar Counsel, Maria Regimbal at a Show Cause Hearing on November 1, 1990. ORDER: The Order and Recommendation of the Disciplinary Board dated July 11, 1990 is approved. Ben Lawrence Hankin is suspended from the practice of law for a period of one year with time already suspended applied toward the suspension. Reinstatement will be entered after a separate order of reinstatement for compliance with CLE requirements. Mr. Hankin will be placed on probation for a period of two years, commencing with the date he is reinstated to active status with the Association. The probationary period shall be on the following conditions: a. Mr. Hankin shall refrain from the use of alcohol, the use of any drug or narcotic except at the direction of his doctors. b. A suitable lawyer shall be appointed to supervise Mr. Hankin's probation, which will include a regular review of his caseload, at such time periods as directed by State Bar Counsel. For at least the first six months of probation, the reviews of Mr. Hankin's caseload shall take place no less than once a month. He shall have the obligation of finding a suitable supervising lawyer who meets with the approval of State Bar Counsel. c. Mr. Hankin shall respond timely to any future requests for information from the Association, in compliance with RLD 2. 8. d. He shall continue meeting with LAP staff and/or his peer counselors, at the direction of LAP staff and continue Alcoholics Anonymous meetings as directed by LAP staff. e. Mr. Hankin shall direct LAP staff to conduct random urinalyses upon him, to be administered at least once every six months. He shall agree that LAP staff will report the results of the urinalyses to bar counsel should the result indicate the presence of alcohol or non-prescribed drugs or narcotics. f. Mr. Hankin shall agree to waive any doctor-patient or counselor-patient privilege with respect to any treatment or counseling he receives and agree to the release of all medical, counseling and treatment records and evaluation to bar counsel. Mr. Hankin shall obtain quarterly reports from LAP as to his treatment and prognosis. g. Mr. Hankin shall comply with requirements of RPC 1.14 regarding the handling of client funds and read and comply fully with the WSBA Trust Account Guidelines, or its successor. h. At the conclusion of the two year probationary period, Mr. Hankin shall be evaluated by a doctor or counselor, approved by Bar Counsel, who shall submit a report as to Mr. Hankin's treatment and or counseling for his alcoholism. If the doctor or counselor are of the opinion that Mr. Hankin's probation should be continued, said probationary period shall be continued for an additional two years. i. Mr. Hankin shall bear any costs and expenses which may be incurred during such probationary period, including expenses of counseling, examination, random urinalyses, evaluation or supervision, expenses of medical or counseling reports. j. Mr. Hankin shall bear any other costs which may be incurred pursuant to fulfilling these probation requirements, including costs of supervision and expenses of examination of trust accounts. In addition, he shall pay all costs and expenses assessed against him and in favor of the Association as a result of these disciplinary hearings. DATED at Olympia, Washington this 7th day of November, 1990.