LOS ANGELES — Chino Hills attorney Jerry A. LaCues was disbarred on Jan. 19 from practicing law in California.
LaCues has three prior instances of discipline by the State Bar of California for similar acts of misconduct. His most recent infractions involve his appearing on behalf of a client without authorization, misleading a judge, and simulating a client’s signature.
In the first matter, according to court documents, the attorney responded to several motions on behalf of a client who did not give him permission to do so and ultimately signed a settlement check without the client’s authorization. In a second matter, LaCues failed to pay a total of $1,500 for two sanctions to the clerk of the court. In both matters, the attorney did not respond to inquiries by the State Bar.
LaCues had been disciplined four previous times for misconduct resulting in several suspensions. In the matters spanning from 2012 to 2015, the attorney violated a range of codes such as failing to perform legal work and failing to promptly pay clients upon request.
The attorney will be required to comply with the California Rules of Court Rule 9.20 subsections (a) and (c) in regards to his disbarment. The rules require LaCues to update all of his clients of the court's ruling, deliver any needed papers to clients concerning their cases, return any unearned fees that remain, and notify opposing counsel in any pending litigation of his disbarment. LaCues must then file notice of compliance with the provisions of his disbarment with the clerk of the State Bar Court.
LaCues, 66, was admitted to the State Bar in 1977, according to his profile page on the bar website.
The State Bar of California was established in 1927 by the state’s Legislature and is governed by 19 trustees. Court documents for all State Bar Court of California cases can be found online at calbar.ca.gov.