November 2025

DISBARMENT

Alan Man

State Bar #262025, La Jolla (September 28,2025)

Man was disbarred by default after he failed to participate, either in person or through counsel, in the disciplinary proceeding in which he was charged with three counts of professional misconduct.

The charges included: failing to support the law, failing to maintain the respect due to the court, and engaging in a campaign of threats, intimidation, and harassment against several individuals--misconduct involving moral turpitude.

He failed to file a response to the charges, or to move to have the default order later entered against him set aside or vacated.

While the facts were sparse in the court opinion, they included that over the course of a year, Man sent more than 3,000 text messages, emails, and voicemails that included "unsubstantiated accusations of tax fraud, wire fraud, and human trafficking" as well as threats to destroy one individual's "personal life, livelihood, and legal reputation."

As a result of Man's actions, two temporary and two permanent restraining orders were issued against him--all of which he violated. He also sent threatening and harassing emails to the judge who issued the orders, claiming her rulings were "due to her PMS."

Edward Barry Reitkopp

State Bar #77871, Orange (September 6, 2025)

Reitkopp was summarily disbarred. He failed to file a response to the notice of hearing on conviction, or to otherwise participate in his disciplinary proceeding, nor did he move to have the default order entered against him set aside or vacated.

He was convicted of two charges: a felony count of animal abuse by a caretaker (Cal. Penal Code §597.1(b)) and a misdemeanor charge of failing to provide care for animals (Cal. Penal Code §597.1(a)(1)).

In the underlying matter, an anonymous caller contacted police to perform a welfare check at Reitkopp's home. Initially, officers saw about a dozen dogs inside the home, visible through the glass doors in the front of the residence. The dogs appeared unhealthy--with missing hair and red spots on their skins; there were also piles of feces visible. There was no response when the officers knocked.

They were eventually able to locate Reitkopp, and the next day, gained entry to his home. In the bottom level of the residence, which was in a decrepit state, they found approximately 75 dogs--all appearing poorly fed and with large patches of missing hair. On the upper level, they found a deceased adult dog and five newborn puppies surrounded by urine-soaked pads. A total of 135 live dogs were found inside the home, where the odor of urine and animal excrement "was so overwhelming that all individuals entering the residence felt compelled to wear protective masks."

Reitkopp cooperated with authorities during the investigation, and he was ultimately sentenced to two years of probation with conditions, with 90 days of jail time suspended pending successful completion of the probation.

The State Bar Court determined that the misconduct at issue involved moral turpitude, noting: "The severe physical suffering inflicted on these animals constitutes the kind of 'serious breach of duty owed to another' that the California Supreme Court identified as moral turpitude" and represented "a profound disregard for basic societal norms and duties of care."

Nicolas Tepper

State Bar #169610, Laguna Beach (September 28, 2025)

Tepper was disbarred by default after he failed to participate, either in person or through counsel, in the disciplinary proceeding charging him with one count of professional misconduct. He was found culpable of failing to conform to a court rule requiring him to file a declaration of compliance imposed in an earlier disciplinary order (Cal. Rules of Ct., rule 9.20).

The State Bar Court recommend disbarment after determining that the notice of disciplinary charges was properly served, reasonable diligence was used to provide notice of the proceeding before a default was entered, the default in the case was properly entered, and the factual allegations supported a finding that the violations at issue warranted discipline.

Tepper had one prior record of discipline before being disbarred in the present case.

SUSPENSION

Robert J. Corry

State Bar #171979, Grinnell, Iowa (September 6, 2025)

Corry was suspended from practicing law for three years and placed on probation for five years after he stipulated to committing violations that amounted to professional misconduct in another jurisdiction.

His wrongdoing there in four client matters included: representing a client with interests potentially adverse to a former client without first obtaining written consent to do so, charging an unconscionable fee, failing to respond to clients' reasonable requests for information, failing to return a client's papers and property after ending representation, improperly withdrawing from representation, representing a client presenting risks due to personal interests, failing to withdraw when continuing representation would violate State Bar rules, failing to maintain respect due the court, and engaging in conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice.

In two additional client cases, Corry was also disciplined in the other jurisdiction for failing to promptly refund unearned fees, failing to maintain records of client funds failing to deposit client funds in a trust account, failing to perform legal services with competence, two counts of failing to respond to reasonable client inquiries, and intentionally misappropriating client funds--misconduct involving moral turpitude.

And finally, he had two criminal convictions--one involving domestic violence, the other involving driving under the influence--as well as a felony kidnapping charge that he failed to report to the California State Bar as required.

In aggravation, Corry had two prior records of discipline, committed multiple acts of misconduct, and significantly harmed the client whose funds he converted.

In mitigation, he entered into a pretrial stipulation and submitted evidence of making steady progress toward rehabilitation after being diagnosed with Alcohol Use Disorder that had a strong nexus with his professional misconduct. Corry was also allotted significant mitigating weight because the last reported misconduct occurred more than four years ago--and he has since "shown his ability to adhere to acceptable standards of professional conduct."

The State Bar Court determined that the conduct "determined to be disciplinable" in the other jurisdiction also constituted conduct warranting discipline in California. Although the court acknowledged that the instant proceeding "involved extensive misconduct," it emphasized that there was only a single act involving moral turpitude, no evidence of intentional deceit, and compelling mitigating factors. Given these considerations, it declined to recommend disbarment.

John David Du Wors

State Bar #233913, Bainbridge Island, Washington (September 19, 2025)

Du Wors was suspended for one year and placed on probation for two years after the State Bar Court received the record of his four criminal convictions as adjudicated in another jurisdiction. The charges included: attempted unlawful imprisonment-domestic violence (Rev. Code of Wash. §9A.40.040), domestic violence assault (Rev. Code of Wash. §9A.36.041), hit and run (Rev. Code of Wash. §46.52.010(1)) and driving under the influence of alcohol (Rev. Code of Wash. §46.61.502(1)). The offenses occurred over a seven-year period in Washington, where Du Wors was licensed to practice law in addition to California.

In the incident involving unlawful imprisonment, Du Wors and his then-wife hosted a dinner party. The couple drove their dinner guests home, leaving their children--a five month-old baby, a three year-old, and Du Wors' wife's 15 year-old daughter--unattended for approximately 30 minutes. When they returned home, they discovered the teen had consumed wine and became intoxicated and violent. Du Wors struck her in the head between seven and ten times while trying to restrain her; the wife interceded, fearing for the girl's life. Two days later, police were dispatched to Du Wors' home in response to 911 hang-up calls. The teen told them of the altercation, and Du Wors was ultimately charged and pled guilty to attempted imprisonment involving domestic violence.

The domestic violence assault occurred nearly two years later, when Du Wors attacked his wife after becoming intoxicated and rageful--pulling her from a car as she attempted to escape and injuring her face, neck, arms, and leg. The couple subsequently divorced.

The charge of hit and run was unrelated to the domestic matters and occurred nearly three years later. While driving his jeep, Du Wors hit a parked truck--rendering both vehicles as total losses. He left the collision scene without stopping, and later falsely claimed to his insurance company and investigating officers that his vehicle had been severely damaged while parked outside his home. However, neighbors confirmed to the officers that Du Wors had driven home the previous night in his damaged vehicle. He later recanted his false narrative during his Washington state disciplinary case, as well an in the present California proceeding.

And finally, Du Wors was charged with driving under the influence (DUI) after an off-duty officer observed him driving erratically. When asked to perform field sobriety tests, Du Wors asked for his attorney, who was summoned to the scene. After Du Wors performed poorly on the tests and declined to provide a breath sample, he was charged with a DUI, to which he pled guilty. The incident occurred while Du Wors was still on probation for the earlier hit and run charge and pretrial diversion.

In aggravation, Du Wors committed multiple acts of wrongdoing and demonstrated indifference by failing to show an appreciation of the seriousness of his misconduct and refusing to accept responsibility for his actions.

The hearing judge had determined that the attempted unlawful imprisonment and hit and run charges involved moral turpitude and that the other two charges involved misconduct warranting discipline. Du Wors appealed those findings, but the State Bar Court panel affirmed them after conducting an independent review of the facts and circumstances.

Lionel E. Giron

State Bar #200450, Pomona (September 6, 2025)

Giron was suspending from practicing law for one year and placed on probation for two years after successfully completing the State Bar's Alternative Discipline Program (ADP).

The matter at issue was a consolidated proceeding involving four misdemeanor convictions; Giron stipulated that the facts and circumstances surrounding three of the violations warranted discipline, and that the fourth conviction also involved moral turpitude.

The charged violations and convictions included: battery (Cal. Penal Code §242), driving under the influence with a blood alcohol percentage of .08 or more (Cal. Veh. Code §23152(b)), driving with a suspended license (Cal. Veh. Code §14601.1(a), and the offense involving moral turpitude: inflicting corporal injury on a spouse resulting in a traumatic condition (Cal. Penal Code §273.5(a)).

Relevant facts in the battery case: Giron and his family were having dinner at a restaurant when they overheard another diner using expletives. Giron admonished him--and the two began to argue. The argument escalated, culminating when Giron threw a ceramic coffee cup at the diner, causing a laceration to his forehead.

In the DUI matter, police officers responding to a reported traffic collision found Giron rolling a tire down the street. He claimed his tire had blown out while he was driving. Officers noted Giron smelled like alcohol and his speech was slurred. He told officers that he would perform sobriety tests at the scene, but "a law" required that they wait 15 minutes, first. He then claimed he was unable to perform the tests due to a back injury. A screening device revealed a blood alcohol content of .187 percent and .193 percent, and he was arrested and charged. He was later arrested and charged with driving on a license that had been suspended following his DUI conviction.

And in the case involving moral turpitude, Giron slapped his wife several times after she confronted him about being intoxicated. He also pushed her against the wall; their two young children witnessed the incident. The woman called the police, and she told responding officers of a prior violent assault Giron had committed on her, which one of the children had also witnessed.

In aggravation, Giron had a prior record of discipline and committed multiple acts of misconduct in the present matter. 

Alexander Scott Jester

State Bar #291145, Fawnskin (September 28, 2025)

Jester was suspended from the practice of law for two years and placed on probation for two years after he successfully completed the State Bar Court's Alternative Discipline Program (ADP).

In a consolidated proceeding, Jester had been found culpable of two counts related to two separate probation referral matters: failing to file a declaration in compliance with court rules (Cal. Rules of Ct., rule 9.20) and failing to comply with several conditions attached to a disciplinary order. Specifically, he failed to contact the Office of Probation and meet with his case specialist, failed to submit two quarterly written reports, failed to submit proof attesting to having reviewed the California Rules of Professional Conduct and specified portion of the California Business and Professions Code, and failed to file a medical waiver certifying that he had obtained and complied with a psychiatric or psychological counseling or treatment plan.

In aggravation, Jester had a prior record of discipline, committed multiple acts of wrongdoing in the instant case, and demonstrated indifference toward atoning for the consequences of his misconduct.

Jester was accepted into the ADP after agreeing to accept its terms. When he successfully completed the program, the court recommended the lower level of discipline set out in the agreement. He was also given credit for the period of inactive enrollment imposed earlier, and allotted mitigating credit for completing the ADP.

David Matthew McKim

State Bar #77396, Summerville, South Carolina (September 6, 2025)

McKim was suspended from practicing law for one year and placed on probation for two years after stipulated to committing four acts of professional misconduct.

His wrongdoing included two counts of holding himself out to practice law when not an active member of the bar and two counts of intentionally practicing while unlicensed--misconduct involving moral turpitude.

McKim had earlier been suspended for 30 days and placed on disciplinary probation with the condition that he pass the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (MPRE). He did not timely submit evidence of passing the MPRE, and the motion to extend time that his counsel sought on his behalf was denied.

Over one weekend, McKim prepared, signed and submitted an order in a trial matter, but it was filed the following Monday--the same day his suspension went into effect. When the motion was denied for failure to pay the filing fee, McKim refiled it--with a declaration stating he was an attorney licensed to practice in California. A few months later, he sent a letter to the court and opposing counsel advising he would contest a ruling in the client's case--again, identifying himself as "attorney at law."

In aggravation, McKim had two prior records of discipline and committed multiple acts of wrongdoing in the instant case.

In mitigation, he entered into a prefiling stipulation and provided letters from nine individuals taken from the legal and general communities--all of whom attested to his good character.

--Barbara Kate Repa