SAN FRANCISCO (Northern California Record) — Pasadena attorney Art Hoomiratana, thought to be living in Utah, faces disbarment by default following a California State Bar Court recommendation for allegedly failing to comply with a previous probation.
Hoomiratana allegedly failed to timely submit probation reports, deposit disputed attorney fees into a trust account, submit proof that the disputed attorney fees were maintained in a trust account and timely submit copies of fee arbitration awards, according to the nine-page decision and order of involuntary inactive enrollment issued June 14 by the state bar court.
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 can request further review within the state bar court.
The state bar court's recommendation included an order that rendered Hoomiratana 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.
Hoomiratana failed to participate in person or via counsel and state bar's decision and order for disbarment was 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 entered in January. The deputy trial counsel in the case reportedly believes Hoomiratana currently lives in Salt Lake City, according to the decision and order.
Hoomiratana's recommended discipline was among the dispositions filed earlier this month by the state bar court's hearing department for June.
Hoomiratana was admitted to the bar in California on Dec. 5, 2006, according to his profile at the state bar website. Hoomiratana's first discipline in California was in May 2015 when he was suspended 60 days, placed on a year's probation and ordered to pay $7,500 in restitution over alleged misconduct in three matters, according to the decision and order and information on his state bar profile.
In March 2017, Hoomiratana was suspended 90 days, ordered to pay $45,500 in restitution and placed on two years' probation after he stipulated to misconduct in multiple matters.