Lyin' Lane: Did Port Angeles Attorney Fake Retirement To Avoid Client Obligations?

A Port Angeles law firm, Wolfley & Wolfley, P.S., already facing a malpractice lawsuit, may have faked retirement to avoid possible obligations to a client.

In December 2023, Joseph Wolfley entered an appearance as counsel for Win-Win Inc, in a lawsuit against an insurance carrier filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington.

According to emails and court records, the representation faltered almost immediately.

By February 2024, Joseph Wolfley admitted to failing to follow court orders. In a declaration filed on February 13, 2024, he apologized for his “failures to comply with the Court’s scheduling order” and his “tardiness,” stating he would submit to any sanction the Court deemed just.

Wolfley stated, “I will dutifully submit to any fine or sanction against me that the Court deems just and equitable under the circumstances.”

It was during this early period of instability that Lane Wolfley, Joseph’s father and law partner, first involved himself. In an email dated February 14, 2024, Lane wrote to opposing counsel: “Joe has stepped out of the office for two days... Please advise, as I am most willing to jump in to facilitate entry of this order as you have requested.”

By October 2024, the relationship between the firm and the client had deteriorated. Win-Win Inc.’s Managing Director, Michael Kessler, sent an urgent email to Joseph Wolfley detailing frustrations regarding missed discovery deadlines and the risk of case dismissal.

Wolfley sent an email and attempted to resign as counsel, citing “depression and declining wellness.”

However, under Local Court Rule 83.2, “[n]o attorney shall withdraw an appearance in any case, civil or criminal, except by leave of court” if the withdrawal would leave a litigant unrepresented.

In other words, Wolfley could not withdraw without first getting permission from the court. Thus, Joseph Wolfley’s resignation was ineffective, and he was still legally responsible as counsel.

Despite Wolfley’s legal obligations, he appeared to ignore future communication from his client.

Facing a crisis, the client appealed to Lane Wolfley on October 28, 2024. Citing Lane’s status as senior partner and his previous offer to “jump in,” Kessler requested immediate continuity of representation.

In response, Lane claimed he was retired, stating, “I have retired from all litigation and civil cases.”

Despite previous involvement in the case, Lane claimed otherwise, stating, “I know nothing of your case.”

Then on October 30, 2024, Joseph filed an affidavit and motion in the court, seeking to withdraw as counsel. Ultimately, the court denied the motion and required Wolfley to stay on the case.

In his affidavit, Joseph also testified that Lane was retired, stating, “Lane J. Wolfley (age 72) is currently retired from the practice of civil law, and focuses only on a very few criminal conflict cases in Clallam County.”

Yet despite the claim of retirement, Clallam County and Jefferson County Superior Court records show that Lane was actively (and is still) providing litigants representation in other cases. Lane Wolfley provided representation in the cases listed below.

The court dockets suggest that Lane Wolfley was not only active when he told the client he was “retired from all litigation,” but he continued to take on complex civil matters—including torts, wrongful death cases, personal injury cases, and unlawful detainers—months after refusing to assist Win-Win Inc.

Potential Ethical Violations

The discrepancy between Wolfley’s claims and the public record raises serious questions regarding the Washington Rules of Professional Conduct, which attorneys are bound by.

RPC 8.4(c) defines professional misconduct as engaging in conduct involving “dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation.”

Thus, by allegedly misrepresenting his practice status to avoid contractual and fiduciary obligations to a client—and allowing a sworn affidavit to be filed in federal court supporting that misrepresentation—Lane Wolfley may face new scrutiny from the Bar Association.

The Washington Bar Association previously suspended Lane Wolfley for three years over numerous RPC violations.

A copy of Wolfley’s prior Stipulation is available here.