September 2026

DISBARMENT

Callie Rose Buck

State Bar #327360, Rio Dell (July 24, 2026)

Buck was disbarred by default after she failed to participate in the disciplinary proceeding in which she was charged with three counts of professional misconduct: engaging in the unauthorized practice of law, failing to inform a client of significant case developments, and failing to cooperate in the State Bar's investigation of the wrongdoing alleged.

Though she emailed the Office of Chief Trial Counsel affirming her intent to respond to the charges filed against her, she failed to do so, nor did she appear at the scheduled trial conference in the matter or to move to have the default ultimately entered against her set aside or vacated.

Satisfied that all procedural requirements had been met in the case, the State Bar Court determined that the factual allegations in the charges supported Buck's culpability on all three counts.

There were two additional disciplinary actions pending against Buck at the time she was disbarred in the present case.

John Francis Henning, III

State Bar #188416, Ukiah (July 17, 2026)

Henning 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 failing to cooperate in the State Bar's investigation of the wrongdoing alleged.

The State Bar Court determined that all procedural requirements--including adequate legal notice--had been met in the matter, and that there was an adequate factual basis for disciplinary misconduct. Henning did not respond to the petition for disbarment, nor did he move to set aside or vacate the default entered against him.

Henning had two prior records of discipline before being disbarred in the instant case.

Henry Yong Ku

State Bar #167985, Richmond (July 24, 2026)

Ku was summarily disbarred. He had earlier been convicted by a jury of conspiring to defraud the United States by obstructing the Internal Revenue Service (18 U.S.C. § 371)--a felony involving moral turpitude.

After Ku's conviction was affirmed and the State Bar Court determined that he did not file an appeal, it recommended that he be disbarred.

SUSPENSION

Richard James Mooney

State Bar #176486, New Orleans, Louisiana (July 10, 2026)

Mooney was suspended from practicing law for 90 days and placed on probation for one year after he stipulated to committing six acts of professional misconduct related to two client matters.

His wrongdoing included: failing to report court-ordered sanctions to the State Bar as required, as well as two counts each of violating court orders and engaging in the unauthorized practice of law. An additional count, dishonestly holding himself out as entitled to practice law, involved moral turpitude.

During two separate time periods, Mooney was administratively suspended due to nonpayment of State Bar fees and his failure to comply with Minimum Continuing Legal Education requirements--rendering him ineligible to practice law.

During the first period of suspension, Mooney filed a declaration and complaint on behalf of a client. In that matter, the court sanctioned him for failing to conduct adequate legal research regarding the proper jurisdiction before filing the complaint, and ordered him to pay sanctions of $50,000 to the defendants. After Mooney failed to pay, the court held him in contempt and ordered him to pay an additional $10,000 in sanctions as well as an additional $500 per day until the original sanctions order was satisfied. When the opinion was issued the State Bar Court noted that Mooney owed approximately $540,000 in sanctions.

In the second client case, while administratively suspended, Mooney communicated with an opposing party on behalf of a client and proposed an agreement in the matter.

In aggravation, Mooney committed multiple acts of wrongdoing.

In mitigation, he entered into a prefiling stipulation and had no record of discipline in approximately three years of practicing law.

PROBATION

David Peddy Kashani

State Bar #246460, Los Angeles (July 24, 2026)

Kashini was placed on probation for one year after he stipulated to being culpable of six counts of professional misconduct--all of them related to two separate client matters in another jurisdiction.

His wrongdoing included: two counts each of representing clients when he was not properly licensed to do so, failing to keep clients reasonably informed of case developments, and failing to promptly distribute funds client were entitled to receive.

In both cases, Kashini, a resident of Arizona, represented clients in personal injury matters before he was licensed to practice law in that state. He negotiated and secured settlements in both cases, and deposited the settlement funds in his California client trust account, failing to distribute the funds to the clients as required until after they had filed complaints with the Arizona State Bar.

In aggravation, Kashini committed multiple acts of wrongdoing that significantly harmed his clients.

In mitigation, he entered into a pretrial stipulation, had practiced law for 10 years discipline-free before the present misconduct, and offered letters from 12 individuals taken from a range in the legal and general communities--all of whom vouched for his good character and his participation in community and charity activities.

-- Barbara Kate Repa