Olson

In this action we are called upon to address appropriate remedies where a law corporation fails to register with the State Bar of California (State Bar) as required by the Business and Professions Code. We hold that at least on the facts presented in the present case, where there is no allegation that any client either relied upon the existence of a corporate entity in seeking legal services or was injured by the law corporation’s delinquency, disgorgement of legal fees is inappropriate.

David K. Olson appeals from the judgment of dismissal entered in his class action lawsuit, filed on behalf of himself and other legal clients of “Baruch C. Cohen, Esq., a Professional Law Corporation aka Law Office of Baruch C. Cohen, Esq., a Professional Corporation aka Baruch C. Cohen, a Professional Law Corporation aka Law Office of Baruch C. Cohen, a Professional Law Corporation” (Corp). Corp and Baruch C. Cohen, an individual, were named as defendants. The action sought disgorgement of all legal fees collected by Corp and Cohen for work occurring during a four- and-one-half-year period before Corp registered to practice law with the State Bar. Appellant contends the trial court…