Oregon lawyer resigns from state bar after admitting to forging court documents

Oregon attorney Craig Wymetalek resigned from the Oregon State Bar in December after admitting to forging court documents.

Dubbed a “resignation under fire,” Wymetalek admitted to allegations and left the bar before disciplinary actions were taken. The state bar was investigating five incidents of potential misconduct, four of which came from complaints.

“Three of those cases had already been approved for formal ethics charges, and we were preparing to take those charges before the disciplinary board,” said Kateri Walsh.

Oregon State Bar public information officer, in a statement.

The remaining two cases were still under investigation, and in December the state Supreme Court suspended him for violation of rules of professional conduct, three counts of criminal felony forgery and intentionally engaging in deceit and dishonest conduct.

On Dec. 26, 2019 Wymetalek formally resigned.

“Mr. Wymetalek made the decision not to contest the charges,” said Walsh. “[He] is effectively and permanently disbarred from practicing law in Oregon.”

An original petition submitted by the OSB alleges that Wymetalek forged documents after a client complained to him saying no progress was being made about his case.

After being laid off, the client, David Schwartz, had sought help reducing a $3,600 monthly spousal support payment. In an effort to appease Schwartz, Wymetalek forged three court orders, including signatures of two different judges and then gave the forged documents to his client and blamed the court for the delay, according to the petition.

Source: https://www.oregonlive.com/news/2020/02/oregon-lawyer-resigns-from-state-bar-after-admitting-to-forging-court-documents.html