The cornerstone of the attorney-client relationship is trust, especially concerning money. West Covina attorney David Earl Lewis, Sr. (State Bar Number 291230), admitted in 2013, has faced significant discipline resulting in a 60-day actual suspension of his law license and a year of supervised probation.
The sanction, effective October 3, 2025, was imposed by the California Supreme Court after a finding of grossly negligent misappropriation of client funds, a serious breach of the mandatory fiduciary duty.
The Core Violation: Grossly Negligent Misappropriation
The disciplinary action (Case No. 25-O-30016) against Lewis stemmed from his failure to properly handle and account for client money:
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Grossly Negligent Misappropriation: This finding means Lewis severely mishandled his client’s funds, potentially through poor accounting, commingling, or reckless spending that amounted to the temporary or permanent loss of client money. While not rising to the level of willful misappropriation (intentional theft), gross negligence is considered a serious ethical lapse because it demonstrates a fundamental unfitness to safeguard client property.
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Failure to Account: Lewis also failed to provide his clients with a proper and timely accounting of the funds he held on their behalf. Clients have a right to know exactly where their money is and how it has been spent.
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Other Violations: These financial mismanagement issues often involve related violations such as poor record-keeping and failure to maintain the integrity of the mandatory Client Trust Account (CTA).
The Sanction: 60 Days Barred and Supervised Probation
The California Supreme Court approved a stipulated agreement between Lewis and the State Bar’s Office of Chief Trial Counsel:
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Actual Suspension: Lewis must serve an actual suspension of 60 days from the practice of law, meaning he cannot represent clients for two months.
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Probation: Following his suspension, he was placed on one year of supervised probation. This period requires him to meet all ethical compliance requirements, which typically includes reporting, financial monitoring, and maintaining proper accounting systems.
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Restitution: As part of the discipline, he was required to make restitution or reimburse the Client Security Fund (CSF) for any client losses that occurred due to his gross negligence.
Conclusion: Negligence is Not an Excuse
The case of David Earl Lewis, Sr. serves as a sharp reminder that the standard for protecting client funds is absolute. The law does not accept negligence as an excuse for the mismanagement of client money.
The 60-day actual suspension and the period of supervised probation underscore the State Bar’s commitment to ensuring all attorneys treat the fiduciary duty with the utmost seriousness, thereby protecting the public from financial harm caused by carelessness or recklessness.
