On Tuesday, October 7, 2025, the California Supreme Court issued an order regarding the disciplinary proceedings of attorney Joseph Richard Manning, Jr., State Bar Number 223381. The court’s order largely affirmed the stipulations and recommendations put forth by the State Bar Court.
The case is entitled “In the Matter of Joseph Richard Manning, Jr.,” with case number S292203.
The Supreme Court mandated that Manning be suspended from practicing law in California for two years; however, the execution of this suspension is stayed, and Manning will be placed on probation for two years, subject to specific conditions. A key condition is that Manning will be actively suspended from the practice of law for the first year of his probation. Furthermore, Manning must adhere to all other probation conditions previously outlined by the State Bar Court’s Hearing Department in its Order Approving Stipulation, filed on July 8, 2025.
Additionally, Manning is required to take and provide proof of passage of the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) to the State Bar’s Office of Case Management and Supervision, in accordance with the Hearing Department’s recommendations in the July 8th order. Failure to comply with this requirement could result in further suspension.
Manning is also obligated to comply with California Rules of Court, rule 9.20, fulfilling the acts specified in sections (a) and (c) of that rule within 30 and 40 calendar days, respectively, from the date of the Supreme Court’s order. Non-compliance may lead to disbarment or suspension.
The Supreme Court order also specifies that Manning must pay monetary sanctions of $1,250 to the State Bar of California Client Security Fund, as dictated by Business and Professions Code section 6086.13 and rule 5.137 of the Rules of Procedure of the State Bar. These sanctions are enforceable as a money judgment. Manning is also responsible for covering the costs awarded to the State Bar, as outlined in Business and Professions Code section 6086.10.
The disciplinary actions stem from a stipulation reached between Manning and the State Bar regarding facts, conclusions of law, and a proposed disposition in case number SBC-25-O-30346. The stipulation detailed a series of events leading to the disciplinary measures.
According to the stipulation, Manning is the owner and managing partner of Manning Law, APC, a personal injury and disability rights law firm. The issues arose from the filing of requests for statutory attorney’s fees in the United States District Court for the Central District of California. The court found that Manning had filed multiple identical declarations in different cases, which raised concerns about the accuracy of the billing statements.
Specifically, the declarations included statements about time spent by Manning and his associates that were later found to be estimates based on standardized time increments, rather than actual recorded time. The court determined that these statements were misleading and, on June 3, 2021, imposed sanctions on Manning in the amount of $2,500 for a pattern of filing documents lacking evidentiary support and abusing the judicial process.
In response to the court’s concerns, Manning admitted that the firm’s associates were encouraged to bill in estimated increments consistent with prior billing statements, and that this time did not reflect actual time recorded. The stipulation also noted that Manning had updated office procedures and policies to avoid future misleading statements to the court.
The State Bar concluded that Manning’s actions constituted acts involving dishonesty, seeking to mislead a judge, and failing to ensure that the firm’s attorney employees complied with ethical obligations.
Aggravating circumstances included multiple acts of wrongdoing and a pattern of submitting false fee bills and declarations. Mitigating circumstances included Manning’s lack of prior disciplinary record, evidence of good character, community service work, and entering into a pre-trial stipulation.
According to Avvo, Mr. Manning is a civil rights lawyer in Foothill Ranch, CA. He acquired his law license in California in 2002.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
