Attorney David Wattel of Chandler, AZ; ethical gremlin

The state of Arizona presented David E. Wattel with a law license in 1988 after he graduated from ArizonaStateUniversityLawSchool.

The Arizona State Bar found Dave guilty of the following misconduct.

• Misconduct involved multiple offenses
• Failed to obtain client’s signature on contingent fee agreement
• Fee agreement never mentioned use of out-of-state attorney

In one matter, Dave a client in a personal injury matter under a contingency fee agreement. The client was awarded $15,000 in arbitration but Dave’s costs exceeded $21,000, not including attorney’s fees or medical liens.

Dave laughingly claimed that he advised the client that the medical liens had been forgiven and he agreed to waive his fee leaving the client liable for the remaining unpaid costs.

Without ever obtaining the client’s authorization, Dave endorsed the $15,000 settlement check and deposited it into his trust account and used it to pay the costs he allegedly incurred.

As one would suspect, this wasn’t Dave’s First bite at the Attorney Misfit Apple Tree. He previously received a complimentary reprimand for engaging in a variety of misconduct.

As a consequence of his misconduct, the Patron Saints for Attorney Misfits sitting on the Arizona Supreme Court punished Dave by gifting him with another complimentary censure.

As we speak (ca. August 2014) Dave practices with Wattel & York LLC at 2175 North Alma School Road in Chandler, Arizona.