In Re: Steve Lewis

I. Factual and Procedural Background

A. The Parties and Prior State Court Proceeding On January 13, 2016, Lewis entered into a written retainer agreement (“Agreement”) with Plaintiff for legal services in connection with dissolution proceedings involving Lewis and his former spouse. The Agreement provided, in relevant part, that “any and all disputes arising out of or Page 1 of Initials of Deputy Clerk sr Case 2:22-cv-00650-JFW Document Filed 06/07/ Page 2 of Page ID #:1166

connected with our attorney-client relationship and/or this retainer agreement shall be determined by confidential binding arbitration.” The Agreement further provided that Lewis waived “the right to have the California Rules of Evidence govern the admissibility of evidence” in connection with any confidential binding arbitration.

During the course of representing Lewis, Plaintiff obtained personal and financial information relating to Lewis’ financial practices, assets and liabilities and general financial condition. The dissolution proceedings concluded in April 2018. Because Lewis failed to pay his outstanding legal fees and costs Plaintiff and Lewis participated…