Bainbridge Island Lawyer Stripped of License by State Supreme Court
The Washington Supreme Court has ordered the disbarment of a Bainbridge Island attorney, ending his authority to practice law in the state. The order, issued January 21, 2026, imposes reciprocal discipline following a similar ruling in Delaware last year.
The decision concludes a prolonged legal history for the attorney that included criminal convictions, providing false information to law enforcement and insurance providers, and practicing law without authorization across multiple jurisdictions.
The Washington action is based on a July 25, 2025, ruling by the Supreme Court of the State of Delaware, which revoked his license for serious ethical violations in that jurisdiction.
Under Washington’s Rules for Enforcement of Lawyer Conduct, sanctions imposed in another state are mirrored in Washington unless the attorney demonstrates the punishment is unwarranted. The Court determined unanimously that disbarment was the appropriate measure.
The Delaware Violations
The misconduct that resulted in the permanent revocation of his license took place while disciplinary scrutiny in Washington was already underway.
In April 2023, the attorney applied for admission pro hac vice in a Delaware Superior Court case. On his application, he certified that he was not the subject of any pending disciplinary proceedings, despite the fact that the Washington State Bar Association had filed a formal complaint against him in September 2022 regarding criminal conduct.
After his suspension in Washington in August 2023, he failed to notify the Delaware courts and continued to practice law, actively participating in a mediation session for a client in October 2023 despite his suspended status.
The Delaware Supreme Court determined that he had knowingly engaged in misconduct that caused injury and potential injury to the public, the legal system, and the profession.
A History of Misconduct
The disciplinary issues that sparked this chain of events began on Bainbridge Island. In July 2023, the attorney agreed to a six-month suspension in Washington stemming from two criminal incidents.
In 2017, the attorney struck a parked vehicle with his Jeep Wrangler and fled the scene. When police located the vehicle at a tow yard, he claimed the damage occurred while the Jeep was parked and that it had been hit by a “hit and run driver.”
He repeated these false claims to his insurance company, GEICO, in an attempt to file a claim. He eventually pleaded guilty to hit-and-run of an unattended vehicle.
Two years later, police observed him driving erratically on July 4, 2019. He failed a field sobriety test and subsequently pleaded guilty to DUI.
Multi-State Fallout
The attorney's failure to adhere to suspension orders affected his standing in other federal courts as well. In September 2023, the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho revoked his pro hac vice status, noting it was “disturbing that Du Wors engaged in briefing in this case after he was suspended in Washington.” The Idaho court further reprimanded him for leaving it to opposing counsel to notify the court of his suspension.
The Washington Supreme Court’s order of disbarment is effective seven days from the filing date of January 21, 2026.
Sequim landlord faces eviction lawsuit after tenant alleges unsafe living conditions
A Sequim landlord has been served with a civil lawsuit claiming the property managed by the owner violated state housing standards over the past two years. The case, filed in Clallam County Superior Court, stems from a dispute involving a long-term renter who moved into a single-family home in early 2022.
According to court documents, the tenant alleges recurring issues including persistent water damage, mold growth in multiple rooms, and a malfunctioning heating system that left interiors below acceptable temperatures during winter months. Inspections conducted by the Clallam County Health Department in late 2023 and again this spring cited noncompliance with the Washington State Residential Landlord-Tenant Act, particularly around maintenance obligations and habitability standards.
The tenant, a Port Angeles-based retiree, says she reported the concerns repeatedly through written notices and phone calls but that corrective actions were either delayed or only partially implemented. In one instance, a leak in the roof near the master bedroom went unrepaired for nearly five months, resulting in visible ceiling staining and a musty odor throughout the upper floor.
Legal filings indicate the tenant sought rent abatement and reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses tied to mitigating the conditions, including air purifiers and temporary storage during a mold remediation period. The landlord, represented by a local property management firm, counters that many of the issues stemmed from normal wear and tear and that the tenant was notified well in advance of planned repairs.
A hearing is scheduled for mid-July, with the judge expected to rule on whether the property met minimum legal standards during the contested period. If the tenant prevails, the court may impose fines and order the landlord to complete outstanding maintenance items within a set timeframe.
Earlier reporting noted a broader trend across the Olympic Peninsula, where housing code violations have increased amid aging housing stock and rising demand for rentals.