Opinion
SCPR-19-0000447
07-15-2019
OFFICE OF DISCIPLINARY COUNSEL, Petitioner, v. WILLIAM P. ORNELLAS, Respondent.
ORIGINAL PROCEEDING
(ODC #17-O-206) ORDER ALLOWING RESIGNATION IN LIEU OF DISCIPLINE
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Upon consideration of the petition submitted by the Office of Disciplinary Counsel, with the approval of the Disciplinary Board of the Hawai'i Supreme Court, for an order granting the request of attorney William P. Ornellas to resign from the practice of law in lieu of discipline, and the affidavit attached in support thereof, we find Respondent Ornellas's affidavit meets the requirements of Rule 2.14(a) of the Rules of the Supreme Court of the State of Hawai'i (RSCH), and find Respondent Ornellas avers and admits to misconduct that we conclude represents serious violations of Rules 1.8(a), 1.8(b), 8.3(d) and 8.4(c) of the Hawai'i Rules of Professional Conduct (2014). We conclude this misconduct justifies granting the petition. Therefore,
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the petition to resign in lieu of discipline is granted. The resignation shall become effective 30 days after the date of this order, pursuant to RSCH Rules 2.14(d) and 2.16(c).
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Clerk of this court shall remove William P. Ornellas's name from the role of attorneys licensed to practice law in this jurisdiction and, within 30 days after entry of this order, Respondent Ornellas shall submit to the Clerk the original certificate evidencing his license to practice law in this jurisdiction or an affidavit establishing good cause for his failure to do so.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Respondent Ornellas shall comply with the requirements of RSCH Rule 2.16 governing disbarred attorneys, the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of the State of Hawai'i shall provide notice of the disbarment as required by RSCH Rule 2.16(e), and the Clerk shall provide notice to all state judges, pursuant to RSCH Rule 2.16(f).
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Respondent Ornellas shall bear the costs of ODC's investigation and any preliminary disciplinary proceedings upon the timely submission by ODC of a verified bill of costs, as authorized by RSCH Rule 2.3(c).
IT IS FINALLY ORDERED that Respondent Ornellas shall be required, as a precondition to any future petition seeking to be reinstated to the practice of law, to submit proof he has fully satisfied the judgment entered against him in the underlying matter.
DATED: Honolulu, Hawai'i, July 15, 2019.
/s/ Mark E. Recktenwald
/s/ Paula A. Nakayama
/s/ Sabrina S. McKenna
/s/ Richard W. Pollack
/s/ Michael D. Wilson