The Oregon State Bar on Monday warned the public about a Portland lawyer it believes should be immediately suspended based on allegations that he threatened violence against a former employee, tried to force clients and employees into intimate relationships, showed up drunk to a courtroom and used methamphetamine in his office.

Attorney Andrew Long “presents a substantial harm to his clients and to the public at large,” the bar wrote in a formal request for the suspension, which the bar sent to the Oregon Supreme Court.

The request, also known as a petition, is unusual. It asks the court to step in pending a deeper review of the allegations against Long. The court serves as the disciplinary arm for lawyers.

Long has stalked or threatened at least four women who have been clients or employees, the bar's Assistant Disciplinary Counsel Nik Chourey said in the petition. The petition didn't indicate when the alleged behavior occurred.

It described Long's behavior toward women as "abhorrent," "violent" and "bizarre."

Reached by email, Long told The Oregonian/OregonLive that many of the accusations are false and that he expects to be "fully vindicated."

Long, 40, became licensed as a lawyer in Oregon 14 years ago. Long says he spent seven years as a law professor in Kentucky, Florida and Missouri before opening up his downtown Portland law firm EA Long Legal in 2015. Among his areas of focus, he lists real estate law, divorces and personal injury cases.

The bar's State Professional Responsibility Board, made up of eight lawyers and two non-lawyers, has approved five separate cases of alleged misconduct by Long for prosecution before the state Supreme Court.

The bar listed excerpts from some of the 25,000 emails or text messages allegedly sent between Long and a former employee.

According to the bar, Long continued to send the ex-employee sexually degrading messages despite her requests that he stop. The bar claimed Long also threatened that he would ruin her future career as a lawyer after she finished law school.

The bar said that in one message, Long wrote to the woman: "People shoot people like you."

In another message to the woman, the bar said Long talked about homicidal violence and wrote of his own personal suicidal wish to die: “I can’t even stand being in my own skin. I just want to (expletive) die(.)"

He also wrote in that message: "If someone every (sic) takes or kills your kids think of how you have (expletive) me," even though the woman doesn't have any children.

The former worker has been granted a stalking order against Long, according to the bar.

Long said he believes the stalking order is unwarranted and will be thrown out.

Portland attorney Andrew Long's website lists his experience in the field. (Screen shot)

The bar said Long allegedly showed up drunk in October 2016 to represent a client at the Columbia County Courthouse after driving from Portland and reeking of alcohol. Long agreed to a breathalyzer test, but left the courthouse before it could be administered, according to the bar.

Long said he wasn't drunk but was distressed over his mother's failing health and he'd stayed up nearly all night writing her a poem. He said he doesn't have a drinking problem and doesn't use drugs, but he does use prescription Adderall for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

The bar said Long's legal staff members have reported that he has a binge drinking problem and that he allegedly admitted at one point to drinking two bottles of whiskey a day. A former employee said he also used meth in his office.

The bar also said there’s evidence that Long could be misappropriating client money, citing statements that Long allegedly made that he has no place to live but wasn’t too worried because he had $7,000 in client money he could use. Misappropriation of client money could be grounds for disbarment.

According to court records, Long fought an eviction from his apartment earlier this year, but lost. He is appealing.

The state bar said Long’s clients who have questions or concerns about his representation can call the bar’s Client Assistance Office at 503-620-0222.

Long will have a chance to respond to the bar's request to immediately suspend his license. He also will be able to present evidence in the bar's larger case for more permanent discipline.

-- Aimee Green