SAN FRANCISCO – French Camp attorney Jannette I. Ramos faces disbarment by default following a March 8 California State Bar Court recommendation regarding six counts of alleged misconduct, including misappropriation.
Ramos is alleged to have misappropriated approximately $2,400 in a client medical provider's funds, according to the state bar court's seven page decision and order of involuntary inactive enrollment. Ramos also allegedly failed to maintain a client's funds in trust, deposited or commingled personal funds into her trust account and used her trust account to pay personal expenses.
Ramos allegedly made false statements to an office of chief trial counsel investigator about why the funds were not disbursed to the medical provider until March 2016. Those false statements, according to the order, included telling the investigator the funds were not disbursed to the medical provider because she awaited the client's return from the Philippines.
Ramos failed to participate in person or via counsel and 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.
Ramos's recommended discipline was among the dispositions contained in a notification provided to the Northern California Record last week by The State Bar of California.
Ramos was admitted to the bar in California on Jan. 27, 1999, according to her profile on the state bar website. Ramos has no other disciplinary matters pending and the client security fund has made no payments as a result of her alleged misconduct, according to the decision and order.
Ramos attempted to resign from the state bar in October 2017 and a hearing department judge ordered the proceeding against her abated, according to the decision and order. In June, the California Supreme Court ordered the resignation not be accepted, according to the decision and order.
The state bar's entry for default was entered in November and the case was submitted for decision in February.
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.