The privilege of practicing law depends on absolute honesty, not only toward clients but also toward the regulatory body itself. Los Angeles attorney Douglas Foster Galanter (State Bar Number 93740), admitted in 1980, faced severe disciplinary action resulting in a minimum two-year actual suspension of his law license.
The severe sanction, effective October 3, 2025, was imposed for a catastrophic combination of ethical breaches: misappropriation of client funds and dishonesty toward the State Bar during the ensuing investigation.
The Core Violations: Breach of Trust and Candor
Galanter’s discipline stems from a pattern of misconduct that compromised both his clients’ financial security and the integrity of the investigative process:
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Misappropriation of Client Funds: Galanter was found culpable of taking or abusing client funds, which is the gravest breach of an attorney’s fiduciary duty. This violation is often classified as an act of moral turpitude.
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Misrepresentations to the State Bar: Compounding the financial misconduct, Galanter engaged in dishonesty by making misrepresentations to the State Bar’s Office of Chief Trial Counsel (OCTC) during its investigation. Lying to the Bar about misconduct is an independent ethical violation that significantly aggravates the final punishment.
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Failing to Obey a Court Order: He was also cited for failing to comply with a binding order issued by a court, demonstrating a disregard for judicial authority.
The Sanction: Lengthy and Conditional Suspension
The Supreme Court imposed a lengthy and highly conditional suspension, reflecting the seriousness of combining financial fraud with obstruction of justice:
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Minimum Two-Year Actual Suspension: Galanter must serve an actual suspension of at least two years from the practice of law.
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Three Years of Probation: He was placed on three years of supervised probation.
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Conditional Reinstatement: His suspension will extend beyond the two-year minimum until he meets all compliance conditions, including:
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Fully complying with the disciplinary terms.
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Making restitution or reimbursing the Client Security Fund (CSF) for any client losses.
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Affirmatively proving his fitness to practice law to the satisfaction of the State Bar Court.
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His license status is currently marked as “Not eligible to practice law in CA”, preventing him from representing any clients.
Conclusion: Honesty is the Baseline
The extensive actual suspension of Douglas F. Galanter serves as a crucial warning that the State Bar will impose severe penalties for any violation of fiduciary duty. However, the ruling also emphasizes that attempting to obstruct justice or lie to the Bar’s investigators is a compounding factor that guarantees a far harsher sentence.
The mandatory two-year suspension and the indefinite probation ensure that Galanter must make full amends and demonstrate complete rehabilitation before he can ever petition to rejoin the legal profession.
