Judge Refuses Request to Jail Suspended Lawyer for Her Website, LinkedIn Page
A California judge has refused prosecutors’ request to jail a suspended Carlsbad lawyer accused of failing to take down her website and LinkedIn page.
Judge Kimberlee Lagotta said on Wednesday there wasn’t enough evidence to show that Patricia Gregory was actively holding herself out as a lawyer, according to UTSanDiego.com. Lagotta ordered Gregory to appear on Jan. 24 to prove the LinkedIn profile was removed.
Gregory’s lawyer, Sean Leslie, told the judge that his client was trying to take down the website. “She can’t help it if there is a link out there somewhere,” Leslie said. “All she can do is take care of everything that is within her control.”
Prosecutors had claimed Patricia Gregory continued to offer her legal services online, though she has no valid license as she appeals a disbarment recommendation, according to the story. Prosecutors claimed Gregory had violated the judge’s November order to shut down the website and continued to list herself as an attorney on LinkedIn.
A state bar court had recommended disbarment in March based on a finding Gregory improperly withdrew $112,000 from a client trust fund, according to a September story by U-TSanDiego.com. Criminal charges filed in September alleged Gregory stole more than $100,000 from three clients. At the time, Gregory told the publication that she was entitled to the money as legal fees.
