David H. Knight agreed to the attorney disciplinary sanction and was given a lesser penalty than he might otherwise have received because of his cooperation.
According to the disciplinary petition, this is the first time a lawyer has been sanctioned in the state for violating Pennsylvania Rule of Professional Conduct 1.8(j), which became effective in 2005. It flatly prohibits sex with a client, regardless of whether there is consent or the client is prejudiced as a result. Washington rules of professional conduct (RPC) strictly prohibits a lawyer from engaging in sexual contact with any client.
The old standard, Rule 1.7, states that "a lawyer shall not represent a client if the representation involves a concurrent conflict of interest." It appears that no lawyer had been sanctioned under the old rule, either, the legal publication says.
If you or a loved one is in a bind as a result of a criminal charge, immediately contact a Seattle criminal attorney. A Seattle criminal attorney is not going to judge you, and understands that everyone makes mistakes. Hiring a Seattle criminal lawyer to help can – at a minimum – reduce those penalties, and can help direct people on how to best deal with their criminal charge. So it should go without saying that someone cited for criminal charge should hire a qualified Seattle criminal lawyer as soon as possible.