On Monday, October 7, 2024, the Supreme Court of California issued an order disbarring attorney Kai Zhu.

The case is entitled “In the Matter of Kai Zhu,” with case no. S286275.

The order stems from disciplinary proceedings that began in November 2023, when the State Bar of California filed and served Mr. Zhu with a Notice of Disciplinary Charges. Mr. Zhu failed to file a timely written response to the notice as required. In December 2023, the State Bar filed a motion for entry of default against Mr. Zhu for failing to respond, which he also did not respond to.

On January 12, 2024, the State Bar Court issued an order entering Mr. Zhu’s default. The order advised him that by not filing a response, the facts in the disciplinary charges would be deemed admitted. It also warned that failure to timely file a motion to set aside the default would result in a recommendation of disbarment without further hearing.

However, Mr. Zhu did not file a motion to set aside the default within the required 90-day period after the entry of the default order. In April 2024, the State Bar filed a Petition for Disbarment After Default with the State Bar Court. The petition argued that the requirements for a mandatory disbarment recommendation had been satisfied based on Mr. Zhu’s failure to respond or set aside the default.

These requirements included that Mr. Zhu was properly served, reasonable diligence was used to notify him, the default was properly entered, and the admitted facts supported violating statutes warranting discipline. The State Bar Court agreed and recommended disbarment to the Supreme Court of California.

With no response or action from Mr. Zhu to contest the disciplinary charges and default finding against him, the Supreme Court of California issued the order disbarring him from the practice of law in the state.

The Disposition states:

“The court orders that Kai Zhu (Respondent), State Bar Number 261637, is disbarred from the practice of law in California and that Respondent’s name is stricken from the roll of attorneys.”

According to avvo.com, Mr. Zhu was a lawyer in Los Altos, California. He acquired his law license in California in 2008. 

A copy of the original filing can be found here.