California bar's effort to reduce discipline backlog may have placed the public at risk, audit says
The State Bar of California may have gone easy on lawyers facing possible discipline when it sought to reduce a backlog of more than 5,000 cases with settlements in 2010 and 2011, a state audit has found.
“By prioritizing reduction of the backlog,” the audit (PDF) said, “the state bar may have put the public at risk because it settled more cases for less severe levels of discipline than it otherwise might have.” The Recorder (sub. req.) and the Sacramento Bee have stories.
The report also criticized the bar for its purchase and restoration of a Los Angeles office building for $75 million, though lawmakers had been told the estimated cost was about $25 million.
A bar press release issued on Thursday said the Los Angeles building is a great acquisition, but trustees weren’t fully informed about financing. The release appeared to blame fired executive director Joe Dunn for a lack of transparency, according to the Recorder’s report.
Dunn’s lawyer, Mark Geragos, says trustees were fully informed and the report backs up claims made by Dunn in a November lawsuit. Dunn alleged he was fired partly for revealing an attempt to hide the true backlog of discipline complaints.
See also:
ABAJournal.com: “Fired California bar leader allegedly misled trustees, leaked report says”
ABAJournal.com: “Fired bar leader’s suit is baseless and his whistleblower claims are ‘bewildering,’ Calif. bar says”
ABAJournal.com: “Fired California bar leader sues ‘with heavy heart,’ alleges ‘egregious improprieties’ “
ABAJournal.com: “California Supreme Court Returns 24 Lawyer Discipline Cases to State Bar for Second Look”
