Washington Attorney Resigns Law License Amid Disciplinary Allegations
A Washington attorney has permanently surrendered his law license rather than defend against formal disciplinary allegations, including claims that he misappropriated client funds and gave false testimony under oath.
Robert Patrick Brouillard, who was admitted to practice law in Washington in November 1990, filed a Resignation in Lieu of Discipline with the Washington State Bar Association on June 12, 2026.
In a sworn declaration signed in Shoreline, Brouillard acknowledged a Statement of Alleged Misconduct filed by the Office of Disciplinary Counsel.
While he did not explicitly admit guilt, Brouillard stated in the filing, “rather than defend against the allegations, I wish to permanently resign from membership in the Association.”
Under Washington Supreme Court rules, the resignation is permanent and places Brouillard under the same restrictions as a disbarred lawyer.
As part of the filing, he consented to pay $1,500 in disciplinary expenses and $7,500 in restitution—plus 12 percent annual interest—to a former client.
Probation and Trust Account Deficiencies
According to the ODC’s formal charging document, Brouillard was already serving a two-year probation resulting from a June 30, 2023, reprimand for prior trust account violations.
During that probationary period, the ODC alleged Brouillard failed to maintain accurate client ledgers, withdrew funds in excess of client deposits, and failed to submit required financial records for quarterly reviews.
When the ODC subpoenaed the missing documents, Brouillard allegedly did not fully comply.
The Garcia Grievance
The allegations escalated following a grievance filed in early 2025 by Arnold Garcia, a personal injury client Brouillard began representing in July 2022.
According to the ODC, Garcia’s case settled for $7,000 in September 2024, with $1,104.10 initially set aside to satisfy a subrogation interest from The Hartford.
After The Hartford fully waived its interest in October 2024, Brouillard allegedly transferred the $1,104.10 into his business checking account without Garcia’s authorization and used the money for personal expenses.
Furthermore, the ODC alleged Brouillard sent misleading communications to Garcia and his daughter, falsely claiming he was still negotiating with the insurer or that the funds had already been paid out to The Hartford.
Although Brouillard ultimately issued a reimbursement check to Garcia in March 2025, the ODC alleged that he made false statements and gave false testimony under oath during the subsequent grievance investigation.
The disciplinary counsel explicitly stated in its filing that these actions violated professional conduct rules, including a rule against committing the crime of false swearing.
The Thompson Grievance
The $7,500 in restitution stems from a separate grievance involving Martin Thompson, a North Dakota resident who hired Brouillard in November 2024. Thompson retained Brouillard to handle two Washington probate matters required to secure mineral rights for oil wells.
Thompson paid a $7,500 advance fee, which Brouillard deposited into a trust account. However, the ODC alleged Brouillard performed “little work” on the cases.
Instead, he allegedly transferred the entirety of Thompson’s funds into his business checking account as purported earned fees by the end of December 2024, and spent it on personal and business expenses by the end of January 2025.
When Thompson repeatedly emailed for status updates, Brouillard allegedly failed to respond.
In January 2025, Brouillard falsely told his client that he had met and corresponded with key individuals related to the estates, according to the disciplinary statement.
The ODC alleged that Brouillard’s unauthorized withdrawal of client funds violated professional conduct rules, including a rule against committing the crime of theft.
Resignation Conditions
Under the terms of his resignation, Brouillard is permanently barred from seeking reinstatement to the Washington bar.
He is required to disclose his resignation in lieu of discipline to any future employer who inquires about the status of his law license.
Additionally, Brouillard must notify any other jurisdictions or professional licensing agencies where he is admitted of his resignation, acknowledging that it could be treated as a disbarment elsewhere.