Hawaiʻi Supreme Court Issues Order to Disbar Maui Attorney

File photo by Wendy Osher.

By Wendy Osher

The Hawaiʻi Supreme Court issued an order to disbar Maui Attorney Steven B. Songstad from practicing law in the State of Hawaiʻi.

The order was issued on April 17, upon consideration of a report and recommendation from the Disciplinary Board, and was based in part on “a pattern of misconduct over time.”

The court’s opinion cited 14 different cases in which alleged violations occurred.

In addition to disbarment, the court also ordered Songstad to pay a combined $18,433.33 in restitution to clients.  The order stated that any reinstatement to the practice of law shall be contingent in part upon proof that payment was made.

According to the opinion, the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court found:

“…by clear and convincing evidence a prior disciplinary record evincing similar misconduct, a pattern of misconduct over time, vulnerable clients, a selfish motive, multiple violations in the present matter, bad faith obstruction of the disciplinary process by intentionally failing to comply with orders of the disciplinary agency, a refusal to acknowledge the wrongful nature of the conduct in the record, substantial experience in the practice of law, and an indifference to making restitution.”

The court issued the order of disbarment after consideration of what they called, “clear and convincing evidence.”

Further, the court found “no mitigating factors.”