SAN FRANCISCO (Northern California Record) — Longtime Beverly Hills attorney Gilbert Ralph Geilim-Morales faces possible disbarment following a March 4 California State Bar Court recommendation over multiple counts of alleged misconduct, including a 2015 assault on his wife.
Geilim-Morales was found culpable on six of the seven counts against him, according to the state bar court's 29-page decision and order of involuntary inactive enrollment.
"Specifically, the court finds [Geilim-Morales] culpable on one count of failing to maintain proper trust account records, two counts of failing to maintain client funds in trust account, two counts of engaging in acts of moral turpitude by misappropriating client funds, and failing to notify the state bar of the termination of a disbarred member," the decision and order said.
The court also found Geilim-Morales' conviction stemming from the assault allegation involved moral turpitude.
"The court concludes that the appropriate level of discipline for the found misconduct is disbarment," the decision and order said.
The court also recommended Geilim-Morales be ordered to pay $91,000 plus interest in restitution to San Bernardino County and a New York finance company.
Geilim-Morales' recommended discipline was among the dispositions contained in a notification provided to the Northern California Record last week by The State Bar of California.
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.
Geilim-Morales was admitted to the bar in California on Aug. 14, 1984, according to his profile at the state bar website.
Geilim-Morales was arrested by Beverly Hills police in June 2015 after he allegedly smashed his wife's face against a tile floor, kicked her once in the head and twice in the back. His wife subsequently requested a domestic violence restraining order against Geilim-Morales.
In December 2015, Geilim-Morales allegedly entered his wife's dwelling without notice and assaulted her. He was arrested at the scene.
In April 2016, Geilim-Morales pleaded no contest in Los Angeles County Superior Court to a single count of injuring a spouse, cohabitant, fiancé, boyfriend, girlfriend or child's parent. His sentence included three years' probation, a 52-week domestic violence treatment program and weekly Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.