Arbitrator sustains Bar's demurrer to Dunn complaint Friday, April 8, 2016 Categories: News Releases Contact: Laura Ernde 415-538-2283 barcomm@calbar.ca.gov SAN FRANCISCO, April 8, 2016 — An arbitrator today dismissed all claims in a lawsuit brought against the State Bar of California by its former executive director, Joseph Dunn, after he was terminated in November 2014. Retired United States Chief Magistrate Judge Edward A. Infante agreed with the State Bar that there was no legal basis for the lawsuit. Judge Infante also dismissed the claims brought against former State Bar President Craig Holden and Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye’s former principal attorney Beth Jay. “We are pleased that the arbitrator recognized the significant deficiencies in this lawsuit and hope this brings an end to this disruptive litigation,” State Bar President David Pasternak said. “The bar’s new leadership looks forward to continue to focus all of its energies on the bar’s important public service work." The State Bar has maintained that the lawsuit lacked either factual or legal merit. If Dunn chooses to amend his complaint — as he has the right to under the arbitrator's order — the bar will again challenge it, bar officials said. John Hueston of Hueston Hennigan, who represented the State Bar and Holden, said, “After engaging substantively with all of the issues and the law, Judge Infante’s thorough order dismissed every claim asserted. We have expressed all along our confidence that a neutral fact-finder would agree with the bar’s position.” The State Bar of California is represented by John C. Hueston, Moez M. Kaba, Joe Reiter and Stanley Chen of Hueston Hennigan, LLP Previous Article Next Article