HILO — The Hawaii Supreme Court yesterday suspended Hilo lawyer Curtis Narimatsu.

The court ruled in favor of the Office of Disciplinary Counsel, finding that Narimatsu "may have violated the Hawaii Rules of Professional Conduct and poses a substantial threat of serious harm to the public."
The ODC said in its petition that it had received 26 complaints against Narimatsu in the last two years, including 14 complaints this year. The ODC said that Narimatsu agreed to represent clients, accepted money, failed to deposit funds into a client trust account, and failed to communicate with the clients or complete the legal services for which he was hired.
In one case, a man said he called Narimatsu numerous times and left messages asking why Narimatsu did not return calls.
Then, on July 23, 2009, the man left a message for Narimatsu, pretending to be a prospective client who recently moved to Hilo. Narimatsu returned the call the next day.
Narimatsu accepted $15,535 over the last three years based on verbal agreements to perform legal services, the ODC said. "In all cases, the clients were vulnerable and believed in Respondent (Narimatsu) when he assured them that the legal work would be done."
Narimatsu, 57, who has gained prominence as a Hilo historian, will remain suspended until further order of the court. A call to his office, seeking comment, was not returned.