LOS ANGELES — Anaheim attorney Amy Lynn Spencer was disbarred from practicing law in California after she was accused of misconduct in two matters revolving around her alleged inability to effectively communicate both with clients and State Bar Court of California investigators.
Court documents stated that Spencer was investigated on seven counts of misconduct stemming from two client matters. In the first matter, Spencer allegedly failed to communicate with her clients “with competence” by not responding to her client's reported nine emails and “numerous” phone calls. In this matter, Spencer was also charged with failing to cooperate with an investigation conducted by the State Bar.
In the second matter, Spencer was charged with failing to return unearned fees in the amount of $1,850 and for not responding to the client’s 28 phone calls. The seventh charge against Spencer — two other charges were dismissed — was for again failing to participate in the investigation.
The State Bar sent a notice of disciplinary charges (NDC) to the address listed on the attorney’s membership records as well as sent various copies to Spencer’s emails and made various follow-ups via telephone. Spencer acknowledged receipt of one emailed NDC, but did not provide any other communication. A default was entered on her behalf, and the State Bar Court of California moved for disbarment.
Spencer will be required to notify all of her clients of the ruling, deliver any papers necessary to clients in regards to their cases, return any fees that remain unearned, and alert opposing counsel in any pending litigation of her disbarment following the ruling.
According to her profile page on the State Bar website, Spencer, 41, was admitted to the State Bar in 2006.
The State Bar of California was established in 1927 by the state’s legislature and is governed by 19 trustees. The State Bar Court added appointed full-time judges in 1989. Court documents for all State Bar Court of California cases can be found online at calbar.ca.gov.