Advisory Opinion: 912

Year Issued: 1985

RPC(s):

Subject: Reporting of unethical conduct of employees to clients or bar authorities

The lawyer's receptionist forged checks on the lawyer's IOLTA account. The Committee was of the unanimous opinion that where a lawyer learned that an employee had misappropriated client trust funds, and had immediately contacted the bank and had the missing funds replaced in the trust account, he had no ethical obligation to advise any of his clients or any legal or bar authorities of the misconduct of his employee.

Advisory Opinions are provided for the education of the Bar and reflect the opinion of the Committee on Professional Ethics (CPE) or its predecessors. Advisory Opinions are provided pursuant to the authorization granted by the Board of Governors, but are not individually approved by the Board and do not reflect the official position of the Bar association. Laws other than the Washington State Rules of Professional Conduct may apply to the inquiry. The Committee's answer does not include or opine about any other applicable law other than the meaning of the Rules of Professional Conduct.