SAN FRANCISCO — Stockton attorney Jennifer Marie Farris faces disbarment by default following a May 1 California State Bar Court recommendation over seven counts of misconduct in two client matters.
Farris allegedly withdrew from her employment with a client during a court proceeding without the court's permission, failed to take action on her client's behalf and failed to inform her client that she was withdrawing, according to the state bar court's seven-page decision and order of involuntary inactive enrollment. In other counts against her, Farris allegedly failed to respond to her client's reasonable status inquiries and failed to promptly refund unearned fees after terminating her employment.
The state bar court's recommendation included an involuntary inactive enrollment order that rendered Farris involuntarily enrolled as an inactive member of the State Bar of California. That order was effective three calendar days after service, according to the recommendation.
Farris did not respond to the state bar's petition for disbarment, she failed to participate in person or via counsel, and the state bar's decision and order for disbarment were entered by default. In such cases, in which 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 entry for default was issued in November.
The state bar's recommendation 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 may request further review within the state bar court.
Farris' recommended discipline was among the dispositions filed earlier this month by the state bar court's hearing department for May.
Farris was admitted to the bar in California on Dec. 2, 2009, according to her profile at the state bar website. Farris had no prior discipline before the state bar and no additional disciplinary matters are pending against her, according to her state bar profile and the recommendation.