Palm Springs attorney George Steven Wass has been disbarred by the California State Bar for allegedly violating a court rule after two suspensions were handed down against him in previous disciplines, according to a recent decision.
Wass was charged with willfully violating California Rules of Court, Rule 9.20, which lays down the duties expected from disbarred, resigned or suspended attorneys in the state, according to the state bar’s 10-page decision and order of involuntary inactive enrollment, disbarring Wass. Wass broke the rule by failing to file a required declaration of compliance, according to the decision.
Wass was suspended in two disciplines handed down in 2015, according to information on his state bar website profile. The state bar handed down the decision July 27.
Wass previously stipulated he failed to perform legal services with competence in two separate client matters, communicate with clients, promptly refund unearned fees to clients, provide an appropriate accounting of client funds and cooperate in state bar disciplinary investigations, according to the decision.
On Jan. 6, the state bar entered its order for default. In such cases, in which an attorney fails to participate in a California State Bar disciplinary proceeding despite adequate notice and opportunity, the bar invokes Rule 5.85, which provides the procedure for the state bar to recommend an attorney’s disbarment.
The state bar's decision is pending final action by the California Supreme Court, an appeal before the state bar's review department or expiration of time in which parties to may request further review within the State Bar Court.
Wass was admitted to the bar in California on Dec. 1, 1992, according to his profile at the state bar website.
In March 2016, Wass was suspended for three months, placed on three years’ probation and faced a two-year suspension if he failed to comply with the terms of the disciplinary probation over problems that arose from a 2014 foreclosure case, according to information on his profile.
The following May, Wass was suspended for three months, placed on three years’ probation and faced a two-year suspension if he does not comply with the terms of the disciplinary probation over alleged misconduct in two client matters, according to his profile.