May 2025

DISBARMENT

Joseph Ernest Canciamilla
State Bar #124481, Las Vegas, Nevada (March 21, 2025)

Canciamilla was summarily disbarred based on his earlier finalized convictions of five counts of committing perjury-giving a false affidavit related to testimony (Cal. Penal Code §118a)--a felony, and four misdemeanor counts of grand theft (Cal. Penal Code §487(a)).

All the convictions at issue involved moral turpitude per se.

Michael Andrew Connor
State Bar #186697, Escondido (March 26, 2025)

Connor was summarily disbarred following his conviction of coercing and enticing a person under the age of 18 to engage in sexual activity (18 U.S.C. § 2422(b)). The conviction was finalized in a Wisconsin district court.

The offense is a felony that involved moral turpitude per se.

In recommending disbarment, the California State Bar Court quoted at length from the summary disbarment statute (Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 6102(c)(2)), as well as case precedent defining "moral turpitude." It underscored that in a disciplinary context, the term is defined as "a deficiency in any character trait necessary for the practice of law (such as trustworthiness, honesty, fairness, candor, and fidelity to fiduciary duties) or if it involved such a serious breach of duty owed to another or to society, or such a flagrant disrespect for the law or for societal norms, that knowledge of the attorney's conduct would be likely to undermine public confidence in and respect for the legal profession."

The court found that the offense at issue qualified as involving moral turpitude "on its face."

John Carl Huber
State Bar #274383 Jonesboro, Georgia (March 21, 2025)

Huber was summarily disbarred after he was convicted of numerous violations of Georgia law. Six felonies included burglary in the first degree (Ga. Code Ann. § 16-7-1(b)), aggravated assault (Ga. Code Ann. § 16-5-102(a)), exploiting and intimidating a disabled adult, elderly person, or resident (Ga. Code Ann. § 16-5-91), aggravated stalking (Ga. Code Ann. § 16-11-37(b)), and false imprisonment (Ga. Code Ann. § 16-5-41). He was also convicted of misdemeanors--battery-family violence (Ga. Code Ann. § 16-5-23.1(f)), battery (Ga. Code Ann. § 16-5-23.1) and two counts of hindering an emergency telephone call (Ga. Code Ann. § 16-10-24.3) as well as one count of theft by taking (Ga. Code Ann. § 16-8-2)--misconduct that involves moral turpitude.

Based on these convictions, the California State Bar suspended Huber from practicing law; shortly after that, he filed a waiver of finality. The court denied Huber's subsequent requests for a waiver or reduced level of monetary sanctions, as well as his request that the question of monetary sanctions be referred to the State Bar's Hearing Department.

Bruce Donald Jaques, Jr.
State Bar #86160, Vista (March 26, 2025)

Jaques was summarily disbarred after he failed to respond to the notice of disciplinary charges alleging he committed four ethical violations related to a single client matter. In addition, he did not participate, either in person or through counsel, in the related disciplinary proceedings, nor did he move to have the default ultimately entered against him set aside or vacated--though he did indicate to the State Bar's Office of Chief Trial Counsel that he was "unable to file a motion to set aside the default."

Jacques was found culpable of all counts charged: failing to promptly refund unearned advanced fees, failing to maintain client funds in a trust account, commingling personal and client funds, and misappropriating funds belonging to a client--misconduct involving moral turpitude.
At the time Jaques was disbarred, there were additional disciplinary matters pending against him.

Jesse Molina
State Bar #211408, Porter Ranch (March 21, 2025)

Molina was summarily disbarred. He earlier pled nolo contendere to a charge of committing gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated (Cal. Penal Code § 191.5(a)), and was suspended and enrolled as inactive pending resolution of the instant proceeding.

The offense is a felony, and Molina stipulated that the facts and circumstances surrounding it involved moral turpitude--thus, qualifying the conviction as a basis for summary disbarment.

Everardo Vargas Valencia
State Bar #131412, Mission Hills (March 21, 2025)

Valencia was disbarred after he stipulated to committing 17 acts of professional misconduct related to three client cases and one non-client matter.

His wrongdoing included: failing to pay court reporter invoices, and three counts each of failing to maintain the required balance in his client trust account, failing to pay clients the settlement proceeds to which they were entitled, and failing to cooperate in the State Bar's investigation of the alleged misconduct.

He was also culpable of numerous counts involving moral turpitude: three counts of making false and misleading statements to State Bar investigators, opposing counsel, and to his client; and four counts of misappropriating client funds.

In one client case, Valencia represented a client pursuing three claims arising from a workplace injury. Their fee agreement entitled him to 40% of any gross settlements reached after in two of the civil cases filed. Valencia received the bulk of the settlement proceeds and deposited them into his client trust account. He made partial payments to the clients, then issued three additional checks, which the bank ultimately communicated had expired. Subsequent checks he issued cleared the trust account, but the account balance dipped to an impermissible level. The clients filed a complaint with the State Bar after Valencia failed to pay them the $215,675 they were still owed in settlement. He falsely told State Bar investigators that the clients had specified the settlement should be paid in installments and that they agreed to loan him the balance amount at 0% interest.

A second client case involved a wrongful termination claim. Valencia accepted a $50,000 check in settlement, then told the client he would have to wait several days for his portion "because the bank was concerned that the funds were being received from an entity involved in money laundering." He then made transactions causing the account balance to plummet to an unacceptable level The client made at least nine requests for the settlement funds to which he was entitled--and ultimately filed a complaint with the State Bar. Valencia failed to respond.

A third case also involved Valencia's misappropriation of a client's settlement funds. He initially told her he could not disburse the funds "because his bank was being investigated for money laundering." He then told the attorney the client hired to help in recovering the settlement money that the client had actually agreed to loan him the money; that claim was a falsehood.

Valencia also failed to pay a total of $5,157.52 for deposition services in four additional unrelated cases.

In aggravation, Valencia committed multiple acts of wrongdoing that significantly harmed his clients who were deprived of their settlement funds.

In mitigation, he had practiced law for nearly 29 years without a record of discipline.

Lucie James Vogel
State Bar #341627, Gilroy (March 21, 2025)

Vogel was disbarred by default after the State Bar received finality of her convictions of vandalism (Cal. Penal Code § 594(a)), threatening to commit a crime (Cal. Penal Code § 422(a)) and two counts of battery (Cal. Penal Code § 242(a). The State Bar's Review Department referred the matter to the Hearing Department for both a hearing and determination of whether the violations at issue warranted imposing discipline.

Though Vogel communicated with State Bar representatives and indicated her intent to file a response to the notice of hearing on conviction, she failed to do so, nor did she move to have the default ultimately entered against her set aside or vacated.

The State Bar Court found that all procedural requirements had been met in the case, and that the violations at issue did not involve moral turpitude, but that there was an adequate factual basis for discipline.

In the underlying matter, Vogel began an argument with the neighbors, a married couple who lived on the same property. She then approached them brandishing a tree saw and threw a coffee mug at one of them--threatening to kill them both. She also damaged their vehicle and assaulted one of the neighbors with the flat part of the tree saw blade.

After investigating officers arrived on the scene, Vogel refused to come out of her residence and berated them--yelling from an upstairs window. The officers released the police canine into the residence, which bit Vogel in the leg. She was then arrested.

There were three additional disciplinary matters pending against Vogel--all of which were abated by the court--at the time she was disbarred in the instant case.

SUSPENSION

Dennise Suzanne Henderson
State Bar #208640, Sacramento (March 21, 2025)

Henderson was suspended from the practice of law for 30 days and placed on probation for one year after she stipulated to committing seven acts of professional misconduct--all related to mismanagement of financial accounts involving numerous clients.

She was culpable of two counts of comingling client and personal funds in a trust account and five counts of failing to render appropriate accountings to clients.

Over approximately one year, Henderson deposited personal funds into her client trust account, commingling them. And in just more than two years, she issued 24 trust account checks in amounts ranging from $200 to $8,000 to an individual identified as her "significant other." In addition, she failed to provide monthly invoices or appropriate final accountings to five clients.

In aggravation, Henderson committed multiple acts of wrongdoing.

In mitigation, she entered into a prefiling stipulation, had practiced law discipline-free for approximately 18 years, and was suffering from emotional distress due to her mother's death.

PROBATION

Derek Brent Vosskuhler
State Bar #190729, Seal Beach (March 21, 2025)

Vosskuhler was placed on probation for one year after he stipulated to committing four acts of professional misconduct related to a single client matter.

He was culpable of failing to deposit client funds into a trust account, violating a court order, entering into an agreement to dismiss a State Bar complaint and failing to participate in the State Bar's investigation of the wrongdoing alleged.

He had earlier been accepted to participate in the State bar Court's Alternative Discipline Program (ADP) after submitting evidence establishing a nexus between his mental health challenges and alcohol abuse and the misconduct in the instant case. He successfully completed the ADP.

In the underlying matter, Vosskuhler represented a client in a marital dissolution. All parties agreed that the proceeds from the sale of the marital home were initially to be distributed to the clients' attorneys' client trust funds pending further written agreement of the parties or a court order. Vosskuhler received the client's funds but deposited them into his firm's operating account rather than a trust account. Approximately 5 1/2 months later, the client terminated Vosskuhler's representation, and filed a complaint with the State Bar.

Though Vosskuhler initially ignored the letters of inquiry investigators had posted on his State Bar profile, he contacted the client after reading them. The client's girlfriend, who was a lawyer, then negotiated an agreement in the matter--a payment of $11,000 in sanctions the client had been required to pay in exchange for dropping the State Bar complaint. The client did so after Vosskuhler paid the agreed amount.

Vosskuhler then received a third letter of inquiry from the State Bar, and at one point requested and was granted an additional two weeks to respond, though he failed to do so.

In mitigation, Vosskuhler had practiced law discipline-free for approximately 21 years before the instant misconduct, and was also allotted mitigating credit for successfully completing the ADP.

In aggravation, he committed multiple acts of wrongdoing.

--Barbara Kate Repa