STATE BAR CONFIRMS INVESTIGATION AGAINST TAX ATTORNEY RONI DEUTCH

Media Contact: Diane Curtis       415-538-2028                                          diane.curtis@calbar.ca.gov

San Francisco, May 12, 2011 — The State Bar today said it has intiated disciplinary proceedings against Roni Deutch, the nationally known television “tax lady” from Sacramento who was sued by the state Attorney General’s office concerning her law office practices.

The State Bar’s announcement came several hours after Deutch announced at a press conference in Sacramento that she is bankrupt and will surrender her license to practice law.

 In light of Deutch’s statement, Chief Trial Counsel James Towery waived confidentiality requirements that typically prohibit acknowledging State Bar investigations. “The State Bar has been investigating Ms. Deutch’s practice for some time,” said Towery. “If, in fact, she stops being a licensed lawyer in California, we believe this will help protect the public.”

Before Deutch’s announcement, the State Bar had informed Deutch that it was planning to file formal disciplinary charges. The State Bar is also in the process of preparing a petition before the State Bar Court to place Deutch on inactive status pending the outcome of the formal disciplinary proceeding. Towery noted that Deutch has not yet been found to have committed professional misconduct and she is entitled to a fair hearing in the State Bar Court.
 

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The State Bar of California is an administrative arm of the California Supreme Court, serving the public and seeking to improve the justice system for more than 80 years. All lawyers practicing law in California must be members of the State Bar. By May 2011, membership reached 232,000.