On November 3, 2022, Ruben Duran, Chair of the State Bar Board of Trustees, issued an open letter and disclosures regarding closed cases against now-disbarred attorney Thomas V. Girardi. A minor update to the disclosure was published on November 4. Frequently asked questions about this disclosure are available here.

The State Bar of California today submitted to the Legislative Analyst’s Office and legislative leaders a report proposing new discipline case processing standards. The report, required by Senate Bill 211 (last year’s fee bill) proposes shorter timelines than current averages, while differentiating timelines by case complexity and types of cases, prioritizing those that pose a greater risk to the public.  

In a joint effort with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office and the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), the State Bar recently seized the practice of Peter Shah, a Porter Ranch resident who repeatedly engaged in the unauthorized practice of law (UPL), announced George Cardona, State Bar Chief Trial Counsel, today.  

The Supreme Court of California announced today it has approved rules put forth by the State Bar of California to implement the new Client Trust Account Protection Program (CTAPP), which includes new reporting requirements for attorneys. The program is designed to strengthen proactive oversight and regulation of client trust accounts. 

The State Bar of California today informed the California Supreme Court that it is changing its interpretation of a statute to allow for greater transparency with respect to closed disciplinary complaints. Pursuant to this revised interpretation, the State Bar of California further informed the Court that it intends to disclose statutorily authorized information about closed complaints against disbarred attorney Thomas Girardi.  

The State Bar of California’s Board of Trustees Chair Ruben Duran announced today that the State Bar is investigating attorneys Mark John Geragos (State Bar No. 108325) and Brian Stephen Kabateck (State Bar No. 152054) in connection with the Armenian Genocide insurance settlement funds from which dispersals were made in the U.S. and France.

At its September meeting Thursday and Friday, the State Bar of California Board of Trustees approved rules for implementing the Client Trust Account Protection Program (CTAPP) designed to strengthen proactive oversight and regulation of client trust accounts.