Provision Of Financial Services By Lawyers - Attorneys - Business & Professions - CA

Section § 6175

This law defines key terms used in the article. A 'lawyer' includes anyone legally allowed to practice law in various jurisdictions and their agents. A 'client' is someone who hired the lawyer for legal services in the last three years before buying financial products from them. 'Elder' and 'dependent elder' are defined according to another part of California law. 'Financial products' include certain insurance products and annuities. 'Sell' means acting as a broker for a commission.

As used in this article, the following definitions apply:

(a) “Lawyer” means a licensee of the State Bar or a person who is admitted and in good standing and eligible to practice before the bar of any United States court or the highest court of the District of Columbia or any state, territory, or insular possession of the United States, or licensed to practice law in, or is admitted in good standing and eligible to practice before the bar of the highest court of, a foreign country or any political subdivision thereof, and includes any agent of the lawyer or law firm or law corporation doing business in the state.

(b) “Client” means a person who has, within the three years preceding the sale of financial products by a lawyer to that person, employed that lawyer for legal services. The settlor and trustee of a trust shall be considered one person.

(c) “Elder” and “dependent elder” shall have the meaning as defined in Chapter 11 (commencing with Section 15600) of Part 3 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(d) “Financial products” means long-term care insurance, life insurance, and annuities governed by the Insurance Code, or its successors.

(e) “Sell” means to act as a broker for a commission.

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Section § 6175.3

This section outlines the rules a lawyer must follow when selling financial products to an elderly or dependent adult client they've had a relationship with in the past three years. The transaction must be fair, and the lawyer must give a written disclosure that meets specific criteria. The disclosure must be clear and signed by the client or their representative, detail any commissions the lawyer will get, and advise the client about their right to get independent advice. It should also inform the client about returning the financial product within 30 days and provide guidance on Medi-Cal planning alternatives.

A lawyer, while acting as a fiduciary, may sell financial products to a client who is an elder or dependent adult with whom the lawyer has or has had, within the preceding three years, an attorney-client relationship, if the transaction or acquisition and its terms are fair and reasonable to the client, and if the lawyer provides that client with a disclosure that satisfies all of the following conditions:

(a) The disclosure is in writing and is clear and conspicuous. The disclosure shall be a separate document, appropriately entitled, in 12-point print with one inch of space on all borders.

(b) The disclosure, in a manner that should reasonably have been understood by that client, is signed by the client, or the client’s conservator, guardian, or agent under a valid durable power of attorney.

(c) The disclosure states that the lawyer shall receive a commission and sets forth the amount of the commission and the actual percentage rate of the commission, if any. If the actual amount of the commission cannot be ascertained at the outset of the transaction, the disclosure shall include the actual percentage rate of the commission or the alternate basis upon which the commission will be computed, including an example of how the commission would be calculated.

(d) The disclosure identifies the source of the commission and the relationship between the source of the commission and the person receiving the commission.

(e) The disclosure is presented to the client at or prior to the time the recommendation of the financial product is made.

(f) The disclosure advises the client that he or she may obtain independent advice regarding the purchase of the financial product and will be given a reasonable opportunity to seek that advice.

(g) The disclosure contains a statement that the financial product may be returned to the issuing company within 30 days of receipt by the client for a refund as set forth in Section 10127.10 of the Insurance Code.

(h) The disclosure contains a statement that if the purchase of the financial product is for the purposes of Medi-Cal planning, the client has been advised of other appropriate alternatives, including spend-down strategies, and of the possibility of obtaining a fair hearing or obtaining a court order.

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Section § 6175.4

If a lawyer violates certain rules and it harms a client, that client can sue and seek various remedies. These include actual damages, court orders to stop the violation, return of property, punitive damages, or any other relief deemed appropriate by the court. Additionally, if the client has suffered significantly in terms of physical, emotional, or economic harm, they may receive up to $10,000 more, provided specific conditions are met. In class action lawsuits, each affected member can potentially receive this extra amount if the required findings are confirmed.

(a) A client who suffers any damage as the result of a violation of this article by any lawyer may bring an action against that person to recover or obtain one or more of the following remedies:

(1) Actual damages, but in no case shall the total award of damages in a class action be less than five thousand dollars ($5,000).

(2) An order enjoining the violation.

(3) Restitution of property.

(4) Punitive damages.

(5) Any other relief that the court deems proper.

(b) A client may seek and be awarded, in addition to the remedies specified in subdivision (a), an amount not to exceed ten thousand dollars ($10,000) where the trier of fact (1) finds that the client has suffered substantial physical, emotional, or economic damage resulting from the defendant’s conduct, (2) makes an affirmative finding in regard to one or more of the factors set forth in subdivision (b) of Section 3345 of the Civil Code, and (3) finds that an additional award is appropriate. Judgment in a class action may award each class member the additional award where the trier of fact has made the foregoing findings.

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Section § 6175.5

If a licensed professional breaks the rules in this article, the State Bar can discipline them.

A violation of this article by a licensee shall be cause for discipline by the State Bar.

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Section § 6175.6

If someone breaks the rules in this article, the court must notify the relevant professional licensing agency with the person's name, address, and license number to see if they need to be disciplined.

The court shall report the name, address, and professional license number of any person found in violation of this article to the appropriate professional licensing agencies for review and possible disciplinary action.

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Section § 6176

This law states that lawyers must follow all existing rules and obligations, even when this specific law is involved. It ensures that nothing in the article will interfere with enforcing rules about a lawyer's duties, especially their responsibilities to their clients.

Nothing in this article shall be deemed to limit, reduce, or preclude enforcement of any obligation, statute, State Bar Rule of Professional Conduct, or court rule, including, but not limited to, those relating to the lawyer’s fiduciary duties, that are otherwise applicable to any transaction in which a lawyer is involved.

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Section § 6177

The State Bar must publish an Annual Discipline Report that contains details about complaints filed against California attorneys for breaking certain rules. This report should specify the types of charges made in these complaints, how many investigations were started because of them, and any disciplinary actions taken as a result.

The State Bar shall include in its Annual Discipline Report information on the number of complaints filed against California attorneys alleging a violation of this article. The report shall also include the type of charges made in each complaint, the number of resulting investigations initiated, and the number and nature of any disciplinary actions taken by the State Bar for violations of this article.

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