In Re Honoroff

Petitioner seeks review of a recommendation of the Disciplinary Board of the State Bar (board) that he be disbarred. He was admitted to practice in Illinois in 1943 and in this state in 1950. He has previously been disciplined here.

In 1973 petitioner was convicted, on his guilty plea, of one count of grand theft, in violation of section 487, subdivision 1, of the Penal Code. He and two codefendants were charged with grand theft in eight counts alleging thefts from eight different insurance companies over a period of almost a year and a half. The information filed against petitioner and his codefendants alleged a scheme to defraud insurance companies by filing false claims for medical bills and lost wages by various persons. The insurance companies paid $55,490 in settling the claims.

Petitioner’s plea of guilty to one count was the result of plea bargaining negotiations, in which it was agreed that the remaining counts would be dismissed and that petitioner would not have to serve any time in custody but would be placed on probation, pay a fine of $10,000 plus penalty assessment, and make restitution through his probation officer to the insurance companies involved in…