David Doyle Hammon (State Bar Number 118218) of Bishop, California, has been permanently disbarred from the practice of law, effective October 3, 2025. His removal from the State Bar roll came as a result of a default judgment, after he failed to participate in the disciplinary proceedings against him.
The default action meant that the State Bar Court deemed the severe allegations against him to be admitted, finding him culpable of 10 out of 11 counts of misconduct. This widespread failure to uphold his ethical duties ultimately cost him his license.
The Core Misconduct: Neglect and Financial Mismanagement
Hammon’s disbarment was based on a combination of ethical violations spanning several critical areas of professional conduct:
1. Client Neglect and Diligence Failures
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Failing to Act with Reasonable Diligence: He failed to properly advance his clients’ legal matters, demonstrating a lack of commitment and diligence, which is a fundamental breach of duty.
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Failing to Obey Court Orders: He was found culpable of ignoring binding court orders, showing a profound disrespect for the judicial system.
2. Client Funds and Trust Account Violations
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Commingling Funds: He improperly mixed personal funds with client funds in his Client Trust Account (CTA), violating the strict rule requiring client money to be completely segregated.
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Failure to Deposit Client Funds in CTA: He failed to deposit client funds into a mandatory CTA, increasing the risk of loss or misuse.
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Failure to Refund Unearned Fees: He failed to promptly return advanced fees to his clients after the termination of representation, even though those fees were unearned.
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Failure to Render an Appropriate Accounting: He failed to provide clients with a proper accounting of the funds he held on their behalf.
The Final Sanction: Disbarment by Default
The disbarment was finalized because Hammon failed to respond to the notice of disciplinary charges or participate in the State Bar Court proceedings (Case No. 24-O-30797).
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Default Judgment: When a respondent attorney fails to participate after being properly served, a default is entered. The State Bar Court then treats all factual allegations in the charges as admitted.
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Permanent Sanction: Based on the admitted facts—which included commingling, client neglect, and repeated financial violations—the State Bar Court determined that disbarment was the only appropriate recommendation to protect the public.
Conclusion: Compliance is Mandatory
The case of David Doyle Hammon illustrates that an attorney cannot simply ignore the disciplinary process. His failure to participate resulted in a default judgment, cementing his permanent removal from the legal profession.
This disbarment protects the public from an attorney who failed in the critical duties of diligence and fiduciary responsibility, showing a pattern of ignoring both clients and the courts.
