According to the state Bar, Karnazes represented her son in several lawsuits that ended in financial settlements. It was found that the attorney did not keep records of her son's money, endorsed his checks without his consent, and used his trust account for her personal use.
When the son, who is now 25 years old, enquired about the money in his trust, which should have had more than $157,000, he found the balance was below $10,000. For more than two years, Karnazes withheld her son's own funds from him and in the meanwhile tried to get herself appointed as her son's conservator, while still acting as his attorney. The Bar found such conduct breached her duty to remain uninfluenced by personal pecuniary interests.
The Bar cited multiple acts of misconduct by Karnazes, including trying to influence her son to not cooperate with the prosecution and offering him $63,000 of his own money in exchange.
Apparently, Karnazes is not new to disciplinary matters and there is a previous discipline in March 2010, when she was convicted of trespassing. The trespasses were related to shoplifting items from Sears and Radio Shack.
Apparently, the attorney is also in the middle of a legal battle with Foster city over her home, which the city declared a public nuisance for filling all major rooms o the house including the garage with more than 10-feet high piles of debris and clutter. Though the case was settled in 2008, the city fire chief has reported that she has failed to follow up with the inspections and fixes required by the settlement.
The disbarment would be effective if approved by the California Supreme Court, though Karnazes still has a chance to appeal. The California Bar Acting Communications Director Laura Ernde has confirmed the recommendation of the Bar against Karnazes.
