Between 1992 and 2020, the bar found a high likelihood that Girardi had committed an offense in 13 cases, including seven in which he was accused of stealing or mishandling client funds. But he settled them all out of public view, according to data released by the bar.
“Upon information and belief, the State Bar took no action for Girardi’s illegal and unethical conduct, and in fact actively concealed his wrongdoing for their own benefit,” the Agatons said in the lawsuit.
The suit claims Girardi showered board members and high-level bar employees with gifts, cash, and rides on his private plane, essentially bribing them to look the other way on his misdeeds.
The defendants’ joint demurrer sought to toss the entire suit without leave to amend, arguing, among other things, that only the California Supreme Court has jurisdiction over attorney discipline issues.
Judge Rice did not make his tentative ruling publicly available ahead of Tuesday’s hearing, but said that it went almost entirely against the plaintiffs. Although the judge also told Osborne that his absence was not “the end of the world,” he continued to criticize the attorney throughout the proceedings on his absence.
