SAN FRANCISCO (Northern California Record) — Torrance attorney Allen M. Petroff, practicing in California a little more than six years, faces disbarment by default following a State Bar of California recommendation over multiple allegations in four counts.
Petroff has five disciplinary matters pending against him, according to the seven-page decision and order of involuntary inactive enrollment issued April 18 by the state bar court. In the four counts against him in the order, Petroff allegedly failed to perform legal services with competence, communicate with a client and cooperate with a disciplinary investigation.
Petroff failed to participate in person or via counsel, and the state bar's decision and order for disbarment was entered by default. In such cases, when 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 can request further review within the state bar court.
Petroff's recommended discipline was among the dispositions filed earlier this month by the state bar court's hearing department for April.
Petroff was admitted to the bar in California on Dec. 2, 2011, according to his profile at the state bar website. Petroff had had no prior discipline before the state bar, according to his profile and the order.
In February the state bar's office of chief trial counsel filed and served its petition for Petroff's disbarment at the address in his membership record, according to the order.
"[Petroff] did not respond to the petition for disbarment or move to set aside or vacate the default," the order said. "The case was submitted for decision April 3."