At Hawkes Law Firm, in Shoreline, Washington, our lawyers help clients after legal malpractice negatively affected their lives and futures. Our attorneys pay careful attention to these cases, as we believe that the legal community must police itself to maintain the highest standards of professional conduct.
Professional Rules of Conduct for Attorneys
Attorneys in the state of Washington are required to adhere to the Rules of Professional Conduct established by the Washington State Bar Association. Lawyers governed by these rules are required to behave properly or be disciplined. Among the many requirements are the following:
- Maintain confidentiality of clients information
- Undertake due diligence on behalf of clients
- Safeguard client property and keep meticulous records of their trust accounts
- Maintain required records
- Protect clients with diminished capacity
- Communicate promptly with clients about developments in their matters or decisions that they need to make
- Provide documents or information by the filing date
- Take action to avoid conflicts of interest
- Apply safeguards and checks when personal matters may affect the lawyer’s ability to provide effective representation
Attorneys who fail to adhere to these rules of conduct and other rules not listed here may be subject to disciplinary hearings and possible loss of their law licenses as well as paying damages to injured clients.
Our law firm has provided expert witnesses in legal malpractice matters in part because of our reputation for representing our clients effectively while adhering to the highest standards of professional conduct.
Issues in Legal Malpractice Cases
Our lawyers make sure that clients understand the standards of skill, care, diligence and knowledge used to determine legal malpractice. We advise clients about the statute of limitations that applies in legal malpractice cases and appeals. Our cases involve questions about the use of experts, court appearances, meeting deadlines, fees, communication and theft of client funds.
We seek compensation for clients who have been damaged by the negligence or misconduct of an attorney. For information about filing a legal malpractice suit against your previous lawyer, contact our Shoreline law firm by calling 206-367-5000. We offer free initial consultations to legal malpractice clients and in most cases charge no attorney’s fee until we recover compensation.
Medical Malpractice
Hawkes Law Firm, in Shoreline, Washington, has a special focus on medical malpractice. Very few people realize the tremendous losses caused in this country by medical negligence In 2000 a government-funded study concluded that approximately 98,000 patients die annually in this country caused by medical errors in hospitals Our malpractice attorneys are fierce advocates for people who have suffered as a result of medical malpractice. We also work to educate everyone about the need to be vigilant and insist on highly quality medical care and to have a knowledgeable advocate paying attention to anyone who is hospitalized.
Advice From Our Founder
We urge people entering the hospital to have a friend or loved one pay attention to the treatment, medications and care provided by the institution’s physicians, nurses and others. The job of this advocate is to ask questions and to remain alert for inconsistencies that might be symptomatic of a bigger problem.
Why We Fight
Our law firm has helped people who suffered injuries or the families of those who died a wrongful death as a result of misdiagnosis or other negligence. We believe that pursuing claims of medical malpractice is an important way to reduce the number of people who die or are seriously injured each year because of preventable errors in hospitals, clinics and emergency rooms.
An Important Example of Medical Malpractice
Our law firm represented the family of a 19 year old girl who consulted her long-time pediatrician about her fainting episodes. Because the physician suspected heart issues, he ordered several tests, including multiple EKGs. The test results indicated that our client had Long QT Syndrome, a treatable irregularity of the heart’s rhythm that if left untreated can cause seizures and sudden death. Unfortunately, the physician neglected to review the EKG results, and no treatment was begun. Our client died a short time later in her mother’s arms.
What Lies Ahead
In recent years, medical providers have instituted systems of checks, reviews and note-taking protocols that have reduced instances of malpractice. However, there is still a long way to go before correcting the situation reported in a 2000 Institute of Medicine publication, To Err is Human. Aggressive advocacy is an important part of the campaign for improved treatment.
We offer free initial consultations to medical malpractice clients and in most cases charge no attorney’s fee until we recover compensation. Contact Hawkes Law Firm to learn how we can help you after any type of malpractice. Call us at 206-367-5000.
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