Court disbars Las Vegas lawyer

Wednesday, June 7, 2000 | 10:47 a.m.

SUN CAPITAL BUREAU

CARSON CITY -- The Nevada Supreme Court Tuesday ordered Las Vegas lawyer William C. Watters disbarred for preparing a false court document in his effort to buy a home.

The court agreed with the Southern Nevada Disciplinary Board of the State Bar Association that Watters engaged in conduct "involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation." It accepted the recommendation of the board that Watters not be allowed to apply for reinstatement for five years. The normal period is three years.

In this case, Henry and Ellen Kuo, former clients of Watters, obtained a judgment against him for $120,000. When the judgment was entered, Watters had qualified for a loan to buy the home.

The Kuos' judgment prevented the loan transaction from closing. Watters then drew up a bogus document that the Kuo court judgment had been set aside and he forwarded it to the title company. But the title officer handling the transactions noted the document did not have a case number.

An investigation revealed that part of the document submitted by Watters had been copied from a stipulation in another case.

The court said after disciplinary action was started, Watters failed to cooperate and tried to evade personal service of the notice of a formal hearing. He was properly notified but failed to appear at the hearing, the court said.