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NORTHERN CALIFORNIA RECORD

Thursday, March 28, 2024

Las Vegas attorney faces possible disbarment after allegedly submitting false bills

Discipline
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SAN FRANCISCO (Northern California Record) — Las Vegas attorney Nelson Lee Cohen, admitted to the California bar imore than 27 years ago,  faces possible disbarment by default following a  recently announced California State Bar Court recommendation over two counts of misconduct.

Cohen was alleged to have submitted false bills totaling more than $216,000 to one client, in addition to submitting about the same amount in false expense reports, according to the seven-page decision and order of involuntary inactive enrollment issued Sept. 17 by the state bar court. The court dismissed a count of failing to support the state constitution and laws, according to the decision and order.

The court also recommended Cohen be required to pay restitution to his client. There are no other investigations or disciplinary charges pending against Cohen, according to the decision and order.

Cohen's recommended discipline was among the dispositions filed earlier this month by the state bar court's hearing department for September.  

Cohen failed to participate in person or via counsel and state bar's decision and an 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 March.

The state bar court's recommendation included an involuntary inactive enrollment order that rendered Cohen 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.

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 the parties can request further review within the state bar court.

Cohen was admitted to the bar in California on June 6, 1991, according to his profile at the state bar website. Cohen had no prior discipline before the state bar, according to the decision and order.

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