Marriage of Chalk CA4/3

FACTS

In 2021, Cathy Spier-Chalk filed a petition for dissolution and a civil complaint for domestic violence against her husband, Daniel Chalk.2 Nigro represented Cathy in both proceedings. When Cathy fell behind on paying her attorney fees, Nigro placed a family law attorney real property lien on Cathy’s house in Irvine to secure payment. The dissolution case was reassigned to the Honorable Israel Claustro in late 2022. In February 2023, when Nigro failed to appear at the trial setting conference, Judge Claustro ordered her to pay $995 in sanctions. The dissolution case went to trial in August 2023, and the family court issued a minute order dividing most of the marital assets and debts. However, the court declared a mistrial on the Irvine house due to a lack of evidence and set the matter for trial in 2024. Days later, Nigro filed a statement of disqualification against Judge Claustro under section 170.3, citing his February sanctions order against her and his failure to admonish or sanction Daniel’s counsel for alleged misconduct before and during trial. In response, Judge Claustro issued an order striking the statement of disqualification, or in the alternative, a verified…