Port Angeles attorney barred by federal agency still holds county contract
A Port Angeles attorney who was barred from representing claimants before the Social Security Administration in 2017 continues to receive a monthly payment from Clallam County.
Federal records show that the attorney was marked as disqualified from practicing before the agency on November 17, 2017. This designation is applied when a representative violates provisions of the Social Security Act or regulations regarding claimants. Under federal routine use policies, the agency publishes the names of such disqualified individuals on its website.
Despite this federal action, the attorney maintains an active contract with Clallam County that pays a taxpayer-funded rate of $6,250 per month.
Vetting Failures Noted in Audit
The county's continued engagement of a federally disqualified attorney illustrates a broader failure in how local officials screen contractors, a vulnerability recently identified by the state.
A Washington State Auditor report for Clallam County, published in December 2025, determined that the county did not have adequate internal controls to ensure compliance with federal suspension and debarment requirements. The report noted an instance where the county paid a contractor without obtaining a written certification, including a required clause, or checking federal exclusion records to confirm the contractor was not suspended or debarred before signing the agreement.
County officials have acknowledged this gap in their vetting process, though a permanent solution remains stalled by internal bureaucracy. According to the state auditor’s report, Clallam County is amending its procurement policy to require suspension and debarment language in all agreements and contracts entered into by the county.
However, the county admitted to the auditor that this proposed policy change is currently under review with the county’s legal civil division. The county stated the update has been delayed due to limited staff bandwidth and high workloads, noting they hope to complete the process sometime in 2026.
Commissioner Mark Ozias did not respond to inquiries prior to publication regarding whether the county plans to review or terminate its agreement with the attorney.