Violation Of State Bar Rules Of Professional Conduct Court Sanctions Reversed.

A lawyer was sanctioned $43,000 under California Rules of Court, rule 2.30(b) for violating the California State Bar Rules of Professional Conduct by negligently hiring an attorney ineligible to practice law to assist her by acting as counsel at trial. In reversing, the appellate court stated:  “As rule 2.30(b) does not authorize sanctions for violations of the Rules of Professional Conduct nor does the rule apply in family law proceedings, the rule did not authorize the sanctions imposed in this case.”  (In re the Marriage of Gregory J. and Marcela Bianco (Winifred Whitaker) (Cal. App. Fourth Dist., Div. 1; November 22, 2013) 221 Cal.App.4th 826, 164 Cal.Rptr.3d 785].)