SAN FRANCISCO – Newbury Park attorney Dee Ella Dorey faces possible disbarment by default following a July 11 California Supreme Court order over four counts of alleged misconduct in a single client matter.
In its order, the Supreme Court also ordered Dorey to pay costs and that she comply with California court rules regarding her discipline.
Dorey's disbarment was effective Aug. 10, according to an announcement on the state bar's website.
Dorey was alleged to have violated professional conduct rules, including those regarding failure to comply with laws, committing an act involving moral turpitude, failure to cooperate in disciplinary investigation and failing to keep her address current, according to the California State Bar Court's seven-page decision and order of involuntary inactive enrollment.
Allegations against Dorey stem from allegedly holding herself out as entitled to practice law and actually practicing law when she was not an active licensed attorney with the bar during her appearance on behalf of an applicant before the Van Nuys Worker's Compensation Appeals Board.
Dorey was admitted to the bar in California on Dec. 22, 1992, according to her profile at the State Bar of California website. Dorey had no prior discipline but she has other disciplinary matters pending and the client security fund has made no payments as a result of her alleged misconduct.
Dorey allegedly 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 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 January.
The state bar court's recommendation included an involuntary inactive enrollment order that rendered Dorey 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.