Everett lawyer disbarred over domestic violence charges
EVERETT – A personal injury attorney practicing in Everett has been expelled for violating a restraining order by repeatedly emailing his ex-wife, state bar association lies, and other ethical violations.
Eric Hoort, 51, practiced law in Washington State for over 20 years. He was officially released on Tuesday.
In 2018 and 2019, the Island County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to multiple calls regarding fighting between Hoort and his then-wife at their Camano Island home.
The woman said that Hoort used drugs, “anything he could get his hands on,” police said. Hoort allegedly stole the woman’s prescription drugs.
In May 2019, the woman made a written statement to the police. She described a fight that had taken place three months earlier. Hoort allegedly attacked the woman when she found medication in her home that was not prescribed for him.
“I did not call the police,” she wrote, “because he threatened to take my animals and injured them in the past.”
The woman said she was recovering from back surgery when Hoort attacked her and that the injuries she sustained delayed her recovery and may further injure her back.
On May 29, 2019, Hoort was served with an interim protection order that forbade him to have “any contact” with the woman or to come closer than 150 meters to her.
Hoort ignored the order and emailed the woman the next day, according to his dismissal notice released by the state bar association on Thursday.
“I just received your records from the sheriff,” Hoort wrote in the email. “I’m speechless, honey. I am finished now. I don’t deserve that. You win (name blacked out). I love you and want to get married, but you clearly don’t. I am beyond words. I’ll sit here and pray and hope … ”
The Island County Sheriff’s office contacted Hoort and informed him that the order prohibited email and other written communications. Hoort told police that he was unaware that the order prohibited email communication and that he would no longer try to contact them.
But he didn’t leave for 24 hours before emailing the woman again. Hoort sent three more messages the next day, according to the discharge notice.
An Island County prosecutor accused Hoort of violating a domestic violence order on three counts.
The court records indicate that the criminal case is still pending.
After the prosecution informed Hoort that they were conducting a disciplinary investigation, he tried to quit his legal practice. According to the rules of the regional court, a lawyer who is the subject of an investigation by the state authority cannot voluntarily resign.
Hoort did not disclose to prosecutors that he was being investigated in the domestic violence case – a “knowingly false certificate” designed to “circumvent public disciplinary proceedings and thus act to gain an advantage”. according to the letter of termination.
A Daily Herald reporter called two phone numbers listed for Hoort but was unable to reach him last week for comment.
The prosecutor’s disciplinary committee identified aggravating factors in the decision to expel Hoort, including an earlier reprimand the attorney received over a decade ago that he had a “dishonest or selfish motive”.
In 2005, Hoort was subject to disciplinary proceedings because, in the event of an unlawful termination by a customer, it had not taken legal action before the limitation period had expired. The client was arrested for attempted murder, released for absent from prison without permission – and then acquitted. Hoort took the client’s money but stopped pursuing the case.
The chamber found that Hoort had violated three state professional rules by making “reasonable efforts to accelerate the legal dispute” in the interests of the client and not providing for careful and competent representation.
Ellen Dennis: 425-339-3486; [email protected]; Twitter: @reporterellen