California Supreme Court disbars Santa Clarita attorney for non-compliance with State Bar’s investigation

On Wednesday, May 3, 2023, the Supreme Court of California disbarred attorney David Kenneth Jefferies for his failure to cooperate with the State Bar’s investigation.

The case is entitled “In the Matter of David Kenneth Jefferies,” with case no. S278773.

The charges cited Business and Professions Code section 6068(i). 

In a notice of disciplinary charges dated April 4, 2022, it was stated that the respondent failed to cooperate in a State Bar investigation by failing to provide a substantive response to the State Bar’s letters of June 13, 2019, July 16, 2019, August 5, 2019, August 17, 2020, October 1, 2021, and January 14, 2022.

The notice of disciplinary charges states:

“Respondent failed to cooperate and participate in a disciplinary investigation pending against Respondent by failing to provide a substantive response to the State Bar’s letters of June 13, 2019, July 16, 2019, August 5, 2019, August 17, 2020, October 1, 2021, and January 14, 2022, which respondent received, that requested Respondent’s response to the allegations of misconduct being investigated in case no. 19-O-16805, in willful violation of Business and Professions Code section 6068(i).”

Following the notice, the State Bar of California, Office of Chief Trial Counsel petitions the State Bar Court for an order recommending the disbarment of the respondent. In this matter, the court’s order entered the respondent’s default based on proof satisfactory to the court that the NDC was served properly on the respondent and that respondent actually received notice on April 6, 2022. According to the petition, if the attorney fails to have the default set aside or vacated, under rule 5.85, OCTC must file a petition requesting the court to recommend disbarment, supported by one or more declarations addressing the factors set forth in the rule. The trial counsel’s declaration addresses the required factors as follows: Lack of contact by the respondent, pending disciplinary matter, prior disciplinary record, and payments by the client security fund due to the respondent’s conduct.

In lieu of the aforementioned facts and petition from the OCTC, the court decided to disbar the respondent from the practice of law.

The Disposition states:

“The court orders that David Kenneth Jefferies (Respondent), State Bar Number 81996, is disbarred from the practice of law in California and that Respondent’s name is stricken from the roll of attorneys. The respondent must comply with California Rules of Court, rule 9.20, and perform the acts specified in subdivisions (a) and (c) of that rule within 30 and 40 calendar days, respectively, after the date this order is filed. (Athearn v. State Bar (1982) 32 Cal.3d 38, 45 [the operative date for identification of clients being represented in pending matters and others to be notified is the filing date of this order].)”

Mr. Jefferies practices in Santa Clarita, California. He is licensed in California with license no. 81996. His info can be found on avvo.com.

A copy of the original filing can be found here.