Lawyer suspended for rules violations

Advertiser Staff

The Hawai'i Supreme Court yesterday suspended Honolulu lawyer Ronald G.S. Au from the practice of law for five years for violating disciplinary rules governing attorneys.

The court found that enough evidence was presented during disciplinary proceedings to show that Au, 68, violated various provisions of the Hawai'i Rules of Professional Conduct.

Au violated rules that included requiring a lawyer to provide competent representation and to properly maintain a client trust account, the court said.

He also violated rules prohibiting a lawyer from making a false statement to a tribunal and from engaging in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation, the court said.

The court rejected requests by a hearing committee to disbar Au and by the Disciplinary Board to suspend him for two years.

The disbarment would be too severe, but a suspension of less than five years would be "insufficient to reflect our concern for the protection of the public, the legal profession and the courts from Au's unprofessional conduct," the court said.

The suspension starts 30 days from the filing of the court's decision yesterday.

Au could not be reached for comment.