Ashegian

INTRODUCTION

Plaintiff and appellant Marc Ashegian appeals from the judgment entered after the trial court sustained a general demurrer to the complaint he filed against defendants and respondents James G. Beirne, the Law Offices of James G. Beirne, Paul Mendoza Allen and the Law Offices of Paul M. Allen. Ashegian’s complaint alleged a cause of action under Business and Professions Code section 6158.4,1 based on internet advertising by respondents that allegedly violated State Bar Act regulations (§§ 6158, 6158.1, and 6158.3) governing the content of electronic media advertising for legal services. The court sustained the demurrer on the ground that the complaint failed to allege that Ashegian previously had submitted a complaint regarding the allegedly unlawful advertisements to the State Bar and otherwise complied with the State Bar review procedures set forth in section 6158.4. On appeal, Ashegian contends that the plain language of the statute excuses California residents from following the State Bar review procedures before filing a civil enforcement action. We conclude that neither the plain language of the statute nor the relevant legislative history supports Ashegian’s…