LOS ANGELES, Calif. — A former attorney for Michael Jackson sued the State Bar, alleging his disbarment was unduly harsh and violated his constitutional rights.
Brian Oxman filed the suit Monday in Los Angeles Superior Court, also naming members of the State Bar Board of Trustees as individual defendants.
Oxman is asking that his license to practice law be reinstated and that all information regarding his disbarment be removed from public databases. He wants unspecified monetary damages.
A State Bar representative did not immediately return a call for comment.
Oxman was admitted to practice law in 1976. His license was revoked July 27, 2012.
The State Bar said in its findings that Oxman used his client’s trust account to evade creditors, mixed his personal funds within that account and was uncooperative in his disciplinary probe. He was also charged with one count of failing to report a judicial sanction.
Oxman’s suit states, however, that none of the funds in the account belonged to him or his wife, Maureen Jaroscak.
Jaroscak, also a lawyer, was suspended from practicing law for 18 months. She is not part of her husband’s lawsuit.
The complaints against Oxman did not involve Jackson. Oxman was part of the pop star’s defense team during the initial stages of his 2005 trial for child molestation in which the lead attorney was Tom Mesereau. Jackson was acquitted of all charges.
Oxman’s former clients include Gov. Jerry Brown, Denver Broncos owner Patrick Bowlen and astronauts Richard Gordon and Ron Evans, who flew on Apollo missions, his suit states.
