Grove

In two proceedings consolidated for hearing, the State Bar of California recommended, respectively, disbarment and suspension of Alan Grove, member of the State Bar. Since we agree that petitioner should be disbarred, we consider only the former complaint, and dismiss the suspension proceeding, S.F. 22480.

In its order to show cause, which petitioner admitted receiving, the State Bar alleged 15 counts of professional misconduct including failure to file or defend suits or otherwise perform services for clients, retaining fees for services not performed, failure to report money collected for clients, false representation, and purposeful evasion of communication with clients. Petitioner failed to appear at the local administrative committee hearing, and he offered no testimony before the disciplinary board. He made a “special appearance” before the board, contesting its jurisdiction. Before this court he contended that the board lacked “in personam jurisdiction” because of improper service of notice of its hearings.

Because his argument is completely unsubstantiated by the record, and since counsel appears to have conceded the board’s jurisdiction in his supplementary brief, we…