LOS ANGELES — The State Bar Court of California recently disbarred Robert Marshall French, a Sherman Oaks attorney, from the practice of law for violating the terms of a probation from a previous disciplinary matter.
According to the March 31 decision, French was suspended for 30 days and placed on a two-year suspension in September 2013. The attorney was found guilty of failing to pay $7,000 in sanctions and did not cooperate with the California State Bar’s investigation. There were several stipulations set for his probation, including submitting quarterly reports to the California State Bar’s Office of Probation. On May 30, 2015, French’s probation was revoked after he failed to meet with his probation officer within the allotted time frame, submitted his quarterly reports late, failed to provide proof of his completion of ethics school and his failure to pay restitutions.
During the subsequent one-year suspension, French was required to adhere to the previous disciplinary terms with the addition of taking (and passing) the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (MPRE) and abiding by Rule 9.20 of the California Rules of Court, which states that a suspended or disbarred attorney must inform all clients and opposing counsel of their membership status. The attorney did follow this stipulation, according to court documents.
The Office of the Chief Trial Counsel sent a notice of disciplinary charges (NDC) to French, requesting a response to the allegations. After the attorney failed to respond, a default was entered on his behalf, and disbarment was recommended.
The Los Angeles County attorney is a graduate of the University of California Los Angeles School of Law. French was admitted to the California State Bar in 1981 and has an extensive record of discipline. Along with the disciplinary history tied to the original 2013 order, French was publicly reproved in 1997.