Skip to main contentThe New Year brought good news and bad for Allan Knappenberger, the Portland divorce lawyer who has generated more than 100 bar complaints ("SOB, Esq.," WW, March 22, 2000).
The disorderly conduct charge Knappenberger faced in Washington County, after a traffic stop for speeding ("Murmurs," WW, Nov. 27, 2002), has been downgraded to "failure to obey the direction of an officer." But now the Oregon State Bar is looking at the matter to see if Knappenberger has violated lawyer ethics rules.
Details of the incident had been under wraps, but the bar has obtained an Oregon State Police report describing how Trooper James Duncan pulled over Knappenberger for driving 80 mph on I-5 south in his green Lexus. Knappenberger was uncooperative, rude and, when asked if he had weapons in the car, refused to answer, according to the OSP report. Duncan cuffed Knappenberger and put him in the back seat of his patrol car, after which the lawyer warned, "He knew many influential people and would see I was fired," said Duncan's report. The report said Knappenberger was arrested and his car towed because he attempted to leave the scene before Duncan could write a citation.
Even if Knappenberger beats the citation, bar rules prohibit interference with "the administration of justice," which is why this incident could lead to discipline.
The report also says Knappenberger called Duncan "stupid," "fucking asshole" and "probably a pussy."
WWeek 2015