SAN FRANCISCO – Truckee attorney Kathryn Lynn Reynolds has been disbarred following an Aug. 8 California Supreme Court order for filing frivolous motions and other allegations, according to a recent report issued by the State Bar of California and court documents.
In its order, the Supreme Court ordered Reynolds to pay about $92,003 plus 10 percent interest per year from April 2015 in restitution for unearned fees to one client. The high court also ordered Reynolds to pay costs and comply with California court rules regarding her discipline.
Reynolds' disbarment will be effective Saturday, Sept. 7, according to an announcement on the state bar's website.
Reynolds was admitted to the bar in California on May 5, 2000, according to her profile at the state bar website.
Reynolds had no prior discipline, no other disciplinary matters pending and the client security fund has made no payments as a result of her alleged misconduct, according to the nine-page decision and order of involuntary inactive enrollment issued by the State Bar Court in March.
Reynolds was alleged, among other things, to have filed motions for summary judgment and to disqualify in two Nevada County Superior Court cases, according to the decision and order. The motions were "without merit, and prosecuted for improper purpose and for the purpose of delay," the decision and order said.
In her motion to disqualify, Reynolds allegedly referred to a judge as a "bounty hunter," the decision and order and order said. She also claimed in her motion that the judge suppressed evidence and that Nevada County court employees were part of a "rigged system" intent on "defrauding the public" with "corrupted records," statements Reynolds "knew or was grossly negligent in not knowing" were false, the decision and order said.
Reynolds also allegedly failed to pay $5,000 in sanctions, according to the decision and order.
Reynolds 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.
Default was entered in the matter in December.