SAN FRANCISCO (Northern California Record) — Bakersfield attorney Loren Nicholas Kleier faces possible disbarment following a recently announced California State Bar Court recommendation and after being terminated from a program that shielded him from discipline.
In addition to disbarment, the state bar court also recommended that Kleier be ordered to pay about $16,000 plus interest in restitution to six former clients, according to the court's seven-page decision and order of involuntary inactive enrollment issued Aug. 24. The decision and order also recommended Kleier be ordered to pay about $3,000, plus interest, in Kern County Superior Court sanctions.
Klier previously stipulated to 54 counts of misconduct in eight matters, including failures to perform legal services with competence, obey a court order, notify the state bar about the imposition of judicial sanctions, cooperate in disciplinary proceedings, promptly refund unearned fees and promptly pay client funds.
Kleier avoided discipline when he was accepted into the state bar court's alternative discipline program, beginning about a year ago, and agreed with a confidential statement of what discipline to expect but was terminated from the program by the state bar court, according to the decision and order. Kleier was terminated after he failed to comply with the terms of his contract in the program, participate in the lawyers assistance program and comply with court orders, according to the decision and order.
"The court now issues this decision recommending the high level of discipline set forth in the confidential statement," the decision and order said.
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 involuntary inactive enrollment order that rendered Kleier 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.
Kleier's recommended discipline was among the dispositions filed earlier this month by the state bar court's hearing department for August.
Kleier was admitted to the bar in California on Dec. 5, 1990, according to his profile at the state bar website. Kleier had no prior discipline before the state bar, according to his profile.