SAN FRANCISCO (Northern California Record) — Covina attorney Jeffrey Anthony Miller faces possible disbarment following a recently announced California State Bar Court recommendation regarding 13 counts of misconduct, including alleged misappropriation of more than $232,000.
Other allegations against Miller included failures to maintain client funds in trust, comply with all laws and cooperate with a disciplinary investigation, in addition to writing bad checks, according to the nine-page decision and order of involuntary inactive enrollment issued Aug. 21 by the state bar court. The alleged misconduct stems from three client matters.
In addition to disbarment, the state bar court also recommended Miller be ordered to pay restitution plus interest to his former clients. Miller has other disciplinary investigations pending, according to the decision and order.
Miller failed to participate in person or via counsel and state bar's decision and order for disbarment was entered by default. In such cases, when an attorney fails to participate in a State Bar of California 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 April.
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 Miller 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.
Miller's recommended discipline was among the dispositions filed earlier this month by the state bar court's hearing department for August.
Miller was admitted to the bar in California on Dec. 11, 1989, according to his profile at the state bar website. Miller had no prior discipline before the state bar and the state bar's client security fund has made no payments as a result of Miller's alleged misconduct, according to the decision and order.