SAN FRANCISCO (Northern California Record) — Forestville attorney Lisa Lynn Gygax faces stayed suspension and probation following a recently announced California State Bar Court recommendation over three counts of misconduct in a single client matter.
In its 31-page decision issued Oct. 3, the state bar court recommended Gygax receive a stayed one-year suspension and two years' probation with 30 days of actual suspension.
Allegations against Gygax stem from her representation of a client in 2014 and 2015 in the eviction of a tenant from the client's property in Hopland. The "problem tenant" and the client wanted to evict the tenant because of problems the tenant was causing and because the client wanted to raise the rent, according to the decision and order. The state bar court found Gygax culpable of "reckless" failure to perform legal services competently and failure to avoid interests adverse to a client, according to the decision and order.
Gygax's good character, with "five credible witnesses and declarants" testifying on her behalf, and a lack of bad faith were considered mitigating factors in the matter against her, according to the decision and order.
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 when parties can request further review within the state bar court.
Gygax's recommended discipline was among the dispositions filed earlier this month by the state bar court's hearing department for October.
Gygax was admitted to the bar in California on March 19, 1995, according to her profile at the state bar website.
In a previous discipline handed down in 2002, Gygax was privately reproved with minor reproval conditions after she stipulated failure to provide written notice to a client that a disbarred attorney would be working on the client's case as a paralegal, according to the decision and order.