James D Gunderson

Two Orange County lawmakers on Thursday proposed legislation to prevent lawyers from making themselves beneficiaries of their clients' estates--a practice that enriched a Laguna Hills lawyer who received millions of dollars in cash, stock and real estate from his elderly clients. The proposed legislation, introduced by Assemblyman Bill Morrow (R-Oceanside) and state Sen.

Moving decisively to curb newly uncovered abuse by lawyers in the handling of trusts for the elderly, Orange County's chief probate court judge has stripped control of a shrinking estate from a local lawyer who used his client's trust funds to finance his real estate ventures. Ordering such action for the third time in the past two weeks, Superior Court Judge Tully H.

Moving decisively to curb newly uncovered abuse by lawyers in the handling of trusts for the elderly, Orange County's chief probate court judge has stripped control of an estate from a lawyer who used his client's trust funds to finance his real estate ventures. Ordering such action against an attorney for the second time in as many weeks, Superior Court Judge Tully H.

The letter from Robert R. Shively ("Lawyer Scandal Reflects Poorly on State Bar, Judges," Dec. 13) raises a question that calls for a response from the Probate Court. The question was: "Assuming the allegations are correct, how did Mr. (James D.) Gunderson persuade Superior Court probate judges to approve such wills for probate?" While judicial ethics prevent me from commenting on the merits of the cases involving allegations against Mr. Gunderson, I strongly believe the public is entitled to information about the Probate Court's procedures.

The articles about lawyer James D. Gunderson preparing and executing numerous wills for Leisure World residents that made him heir to millions of dollars in his aged clients' cash and property pose an obvious question. Assuming the allegations are correct, how did Mr. Gunderson persuade Superior Court probate judges to approve such wills for probate? They are well aware of probate law and ethical standards for fiduciaries. It's amazing that probate judges would approve wills and distributions that so clearly violate both considerations.

A probate court judge has removed Laguna Hills lawyer James D. Gunderson as trustee of an estate that bequeathed him $3.5 million, and stripped him of control over the affairs of a Leisure World woman after Orange County's public guardian was unable to account for $800,000 of her estate. Acting on his own initiative Friday, Superior Court Judge Tully H. Seymour relieved Gunderson--and appointed another lawyer--as trustee for the estate of Merrill A.

A probate court judge has removed Laguna Hills lawyer James D. Gunderson as trustee of an estate which bequeathed him $3.5 million under questionable circumstances and also stripped him of control over another estate where authorities were unable to account for $800,000. Acting on his own initiative Friday, Orange County Superior Court Judge Tully H. Seymour relieved Gunderson--and appointed another lawyer--as trustee for the estate of Merrill A.

As president of the State Bar of California, I feel a great sense of responsibility to assure the public that the Bar has been, and will continue, investigating the circumstances relayed in your story concerning Orange County attorney James D. Gunderson, who allegedly has received millions of dollars from the estates of elderly clients whose wills and trusts he prepared (Nov. 22). The State Bar's chief trial counsel has waived confidentiality in this particular proceedings so that I may disclose publicly that an extensive and thorough State Bar investigation has been under way since these allegations were brought to the Bar's attention.

County Sheriff Brad Gates announced Tuesday that his fraud unit has set up a telephone hot line to gather information about possible "criminal wrongdoing" by an Orange County lawyer who prepared wills and trusts making himself the recipient of millions of dollars in cash, stock and real estate.

Orange County Sheriff Brad Gates said Tuesday that his fraud unit has set up a telephone hot line to gather information about possible criminal wrongdoing by an Orange County lawyer who prepared wills and trusts, making himself the recipient of millions of dollars in cash, stock and real estate.