SAN FRANCISCO — Glendale attorney Judy Unkyung Paik faces possible disbarment by default following a recently announced California State Bar Court recommendation and her conviction in the Los Angeles County Superior Court of defrauding an innkeeper by nonpayment.
In addition to her disbarment, the state bar also recommended Paik be required to pay costs in the proceedings against her, according to the seven-page decision and order of involuntary inactive enrollment issued Dec. 3 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 may request further review within the state bar court.
Paik's recommended discipline was among the dispositions filed earlier this month by the state bar court's hearing department for December.
The state bar court's recommendation included an involuntary inactive enrollment order that rendered Paik 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.
Paik failed to participate in person or via counsel, and the state bar's decision and order for disbarment was entered by default. In such cases, in which 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 May.
Paik was admitted to the bar in California on June 1, 2004, according to her profile at the state bar website. Paik had no prior history of discipline and no other disciplinary matters pending, according to the decision and order.
In January 2014, Paik pleaded nolo contendere to a misdemeanor defrauding an innkeeper charge, according to the decision and order.
"Specifically, [Paik] was charged with and convicted of unlawfully obtaining food and accommodations, without paying therefore, with intent to defraud," the decision and order said. "The imposition of sentence was suspended and [Paik] was placed on summary probation."