On Wednesday, January 18, 2023, the Supreme Court of California suspended attorney Peter Leo Kutrubes from the practice of law in California for three years for failure to follow Court orders and failure to maintain respect to the Court.

The case is entitled “In the matter of Peter Leo Kutrubes” with case no. S277351.

The Charges cited Business and Professions Code Section 1603, 6068(b), 6103, 6068(b), 6068(c), 6103, 6068(o)(3) and Rules of Professional Conduct 3-110(A).

On March 3, 2021, the State Bar Court issued a Notice of Disciplinary Charges against attorney Eric Anthony Teti. As per the Notice, the court reminded that if the Respondent failed to file a written answer to the Notice within 20 days, or if he failed to appear at the trial, it will result in the respondent’s status of being inactive and he will not be then permitted to practice law. Further, the respondent will not be permitted to participate in the proceedings unless he makes a timely Motion. Allegedly, the Respondent failed to obey a Court Order, failed to maintain respect for the court, failed to inform the client of significant developments, and failed to report Judicial Sanctions.

The filing states:

“Respondent disobeyed or violated an order of the court requiring the respondent to do or bear an act connected with or in the course of respondent’s profession, which respondent knew was final and binding and which respondent ought in good faith to do or forbear by failing to comply with the September 7, 2018 Order to Show Cause inC &H Produce Inc., v. ABCBakery Cafe Inc., San FranciscoCounty Superior CourtCase Number 18-563608, requiring the respondent to file a response to the Order to Show Cause and to appear at the Order to ShowCause Hearing on January 8, 2019”

The filing continues:

“Respondent failed to maintain respect to the court when he disobeyed or violated an order of the court issued on January 10, 2019 Order to Show Cause in C &H Produce Inc., v. -3 ABC Bakery Cafe Inc, San Francisco County Superior Court Case Number 18-563608, requiring the respondent to file a response to the Order to Show Cause and to appear at the Order to Show Cause Hearing on March 12, 2019, in willful violation of Business and Professions Code, section 6068(b).”

The filing further states:

“Respondent failed to report to the agency charged with attorney discipline, in writing, within 30 days of the time respondent had knowledge of the imposition of judicial sanctions against the respondent by failing to report to the State Bar the $2,500 in sanctions the court imposed on the respondent on or about April 2, 2019, in connection with In re Paul Christensen Case Number 18 – 10852 Northern District of California Bankruptcy Court, in willful violation of Business and Professions Code, section 6068(o)(3).”

On April 29, 2021, the respondent filed a Response to the Disciplinary Charges. Mr. Kutubres admitted some of the allegations and denied some parts. He prayed for the dismissal of the Notice of Disciplinary Charges.

Despite the admittance of the Respondent on some of the allegations, the Supreme Court of California decided to suspend him from the practice of law for three years.

The Disposition states:

“The court orders that Peter I.eo Kutrubes (Respondent), State Bar Number 176024, be suspended from the practice of law in California for three years, execution of that period of suspension is stayed, and Respondent is placed on probation for three years subject to the following conditions:

1. Respondent is suspended from the practice of law for the first year of probation;
2. Respondent must also comply with the other conditions of probation recommended by the Review Department of the State Bar Court in its Opinion filed on October 6, 2022, and
3. At the expiration of the period of probation, if the Respondent has complied with all conditions of probation, the period of stayed suspension will be satisfied and that suspension will be terminated.”

As of today, Mr. Kutrubes is listed on the law firm of the Law Office of Peter L. Kutrubes. His info can be found on martindale.com. Peter attended the Golden State University School of Law. He practices in Walnut Creek, California. He is licensed to practice in California and Massachusetts.

A copy of the original filing can be found here.