Gold River attorney Michael Joseph Baytosh faces two years' probation following a California State Bar recommendation over multiple counts of misconduct in a single client matter.
The California State Bar Court recommended Baytosh receive a stayed suspension of one year in addition to the probation, according to the 18-page decision and order issued Dec. 18 by the state bar court. The decision and order following Baytosh's successful completion of the state bar court's alternative discipline program, according to the decision and order.
Baytosh previously stipulated to willfully failing to perform services competently, failing to obey court orders to provide discovery responses, and by making misrepresentations regarding the status of discovery responses, according to the decision and order.
Michael Joseph Baytosh was admitted to the California bar June 1, 1995.
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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 the time in which parties can request further review within the state bar court.
Baytosh's recommended discipline was among the dispositions filed by the state bar court's hearing department for December.
Baytosh was admitted to the California bar June 1, 1995, according to his profile at the state bar website. Baytosh had no prior discipline before the state bar, according to his profile and the decision and order.
Baytosh requested referral to the alternative discipline program after the state bar's office of chief trial counsel filed a notice of disciplinary charges against him in September 2015, according to the decision and order.
"[Baytosh] then contacted the State Bar's Lawyer Assistance Program (LAP) to assist him with his mental health issue," the decision and order said.
Baytosh successfully participated in both programs and received a certificate for successful completion, with the court affirming his successful completion during a status conference in November, according to the decision and order. The matter was submitted for a decision the same month, according to the decision and order.