Most

This is a proceeding to review a recommendation of the State Bar of California that Louis Most be suspended from the practice of the law for three years, with actual suspension during the first two years, and that he be placed on probation for the entire three-year period.

The findings of the State Bar disciplinary board, made after extensive hearings conducted by a local disciplinary committee, were as follows: Petitioner was admitted to practice in 1934. He was also a licensed insurance adjuster and operated a business under the name of Associated Fire Adjusters (hereinafter called Associated) in addition to his law practice. David Merl suffered a fire loss in his retail shoe store in Oxnard on May 19, 1962, and his accountant recommended that Merl employ petitioner to prosecute his claim against the insurance companies covering the loss because petitioner was licensed both as an attorney and as an adjuster. On June 9, petitioner and Merl entered into a written contract on a printed form furnished by petitioner. The agreement provided that Merl employed Associated as a fire adjuster for a “fee of ten per cent (10%) of the amount paid or agreed to be paid by the insurance…