Posted on: Saturday, June 16, 2001

High court disciplines three lawyers

Advertiser Staff

The state Supreme Court has disciplined three Hawai'i lawyers.

The court suspended Hilo attorney and former South Kona magistrate Robert I.W. Lau for one year and one day effective May 10. Lau, 75, was disciplined after he entered into a business transaction involving investment coins without disclosing to his client that their interests differed, the court said.

Lau also fraudulently transferred real property to avoid creditors, the court said. In imposing the discipline, the high court said Lau showed a selfish or dishonest motive, had multiple offenses, and refused to acknowledge the wrongful nature of his conduct.

The Supreme Court disciplined Lau more than eight years ago. Lau has been a member of the Hawai'i bar since 1956.

Maui attorney Stephen G. Garcia was suspended from practice for six months effective June 8 for failing to return and negligently misappropriating auction proceeds for two clients. Garcia, 49, was admitted to the state bar in 1982.

The Supreme Court also publicly censured Maui attorney Alan G. Warner after he received a similar censure from the Kansas Supreme Court for ethical misconduct.

The Kansas court found that Warner failed to enter into a written contract with a client and failed to honor an agreement to reimburse a witness for travel expenses. Both state supreme courts ordered Warner to reimburse the witness for the travel expenses.

Warner was admitted to the Hawai'i bar in January 1999.