Longtime Denver personal injury attorney Michael Sawaya was publicly censured this week over professional misconduct connected to a business deal he made with a client with whom he had a romantic relationship, according to state disciplinary records.
“From time to time lawyers just don’t quite realize what would be considered an unethical activity,” Sawaya said Thursday. “I’d been practicing for 45 years. I just didn’t realize how this would appear to someone. It’s a very technical ethical issue about when, if there is an arguable interest that you’ve taken in someone’s case, that you have to specifically have them sign off on that.”
Starting in 2019, the pair were involved not only in a romantic relationship but also a business relationship after Sawaya loaned Jaramillo $280,000 in exchange for 30% of his company and some rights to Jaramillo’s properties, according to court records.