News-Times Whidbey
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6, 2013 | Vol. 114, No. 19 | www.whidbeynewstimes.com | 75¢
INSIDE:
Coupeville grad takes voyage on reality TV
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Allegations lead to attorney’s ouster from firm OH attorney accused of improperly handling trust By JESSIE STENSLAND Staff reporter
An Oak Harbor attorney was forced to withdraw from his law firm after he was accused of improperly depositing money from a trust account into his personal banking account, according to Island County Superior Court documents. Douglas Saar’s name was dropped last month from Law Offices of Skinner &
Saar, one of the most well-known law firms on Whidbey Island. Attorney Christon Skinner said he knew nothing about the allegations until he received “a successor trustee’s report” last month which detailed alleged improprieties and over-billing by Saar. Skinner said Saar was acting as trustee for the Edwin and Emily Upton Trust outside of the law firm and without his knowledge. He said it is improper for Saar to take on legal work outside the firm Skinner said he immediately asked Saar, a minority shareholder, to leave the firm. “It’s a sad development,” Skinner said,
“but I have no choice in that situation other then to sever ties when I discovered impropriety.” Skinner said he had an obligation to report Saar to the state Bar Association for alleged unethical conduct. He said Saar “improperly co-mingled” trust funds with his own. Skinner said he could not comment on whether the police were notified about the allegations. Neither a detective with the Oak Harbor Police Department nor the county prosecutor were aware of the alleSee saar, A28
file photo
Douglas Saar, left, and Christon Skinner pose for a photo during the opening of their new office in 2011.
Judge Pitt remembered as fair, compassionate By JESSIE STENSLAND Staff reporter
Megan Hansen / Whidbey News-Times
Margaret Pisa, left, and Amanda Bergstrom serve chowder outside Knead N’ Feed Sunday to hungry mussel enthusiasts during Coupeville’s annual Penn Cove Mussel Festival.
MUSSEL M ADNESS
Coupeville festival draws thousands By Megan Hansen Editor
2,600 tasting passes purchased. “It was what we had hoped for,” Chambers said. Tickets sold out at 1 p.m. Saturday and there were still some left on Sunday. After all the chowders were tasted, people voted on their favorite entry. In the end, Captain Whidbey Inn won with its mussel chowder featuring mussels in the whole shell. See mussel, A28
Judge Richard Pitt lawyer,” Hancock said. “I once heard him say that when he was prosecuting attorney, he never lost a jury trial.” Grace Pitt said her husband represented a woman who sued the Navy after being discharged for being homosexual. Pitt received See pitt, A28
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The streets of Coupeville were flooded this weekend with mussel enthusiasts. Visitors came from near and far to taste the tiny town that was teeming
with big mussel flavor. People wandered the town going from business to business, tasting 16 different chowders made by local participants. Vickie Chambers, executive director of the Coupeville Historic Waterfront Association, said an estimated 6,000 people came through town. Chowder ticket sales surpassed last year’s 1,900 sold with more than
Former Island County Superior Court Judge Richard Pitt died March 1 at his home in Langley. He was 85 years old. Pitt is remembered by family, friends and colleagues as a successful trial attorney and pillar of the community who became a well-respected jurist. “He leaves a lasting legacy in the annals of the Island County judicial system,” said Judge Alan Hancock, who served with Pitt. “He was also a very fine person, and he and his lovely wife, Grace, raised a wonderful family together.” After moving to Whidbey Island in 1962, Pitt became the county prosecutor, which came with many hats at the time; he was also the coroner, the juvenile probation officer and the Langley city attorney. In addition, Pitt was allowed to have a private practice because of the small size of the county. Pitt became a partner at the Patrick, Zylstra & Pitt law firm in Oak Harbor in 1968. “He was a very successful trial