SALEM, Ore. (Legal Newsline)-The Oregon State Bar is asking that a personal injury attorney in Portland be disbarred for failing to pay settlements or awards to his clients.
The state Supreme Court has already suspended attorney Michael Shinn from practicing law after flouting a court order by writing $1,200 in checks to himself from client money, The (Portland) Oregonian reported.
Shinn also is accused of failing to file a lawsuit before the statute of limitations deadline on behalf of a woman who was infected with hepatitis C from a blood transfusion, among other charges.
Earlier this year, the Oregon State Bar asked the state's high court to suspend Shinn pending trial. At that time, the justices declined to suspend Shinn, but instead ordered him not to dip into his lawyer trust account without the bar's permission.
The bar said Shinn violated that order within weeks by writing himself checks for fees.
Shinn had already been suspended from practicing law because he hasn't paid his bar dues or malpractice insurance.
From Legal Newsline: Reach staff reporter Chris Rizo at chrisrizo@legalnewsline.com.
