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| Members of the Santa Clara County legal community say that for more than 20 years, family law attorney Bradford Baugh boasted of his military service and heroics in the Vietnam War. But government records and other sources, including this 1968 yearbook entry, have proven the claims false, according to a veterans organization. |
An investigation by a "stolen valor" veterans research organization has determined that prominent Santa Clara County divorce lawyer Bradford Baugh's claim to military service in the Vietnam War era is not true. According to attorney ethics law, the demonstrably false claim constitutes an act of "moral turpitude."
California Business and Professions Code § 6106 prohibits acts involving dishonesty or corruption, "whether the act is committed in the course of his relations as an attorney or otherwise." The law has been well established since at least 1992, according to the State Bar Compendium of Professional Responsibility, a directory of past disciplinary decisions against lawyers.
The veterans group said they will ask the State Bar to disbar the controversial attorney, and are closely reviewing the case for possible referral to the U.S. Department of Justice for criminal prosecution under the Stolen Valor Act.
Baugh reportedly promoted his status as a veteran to generate business, according to current and former clients. Court appointed experts who worked on cases involving Baugh said the attorney would also boast about the high number of enemy fatalities he was personally responsible for during his service in Vietnam. Several experts interpreted Baugh's unusual recitation of his Vietnam enemy death count as a veiled threat to ensure the testimony of experts was favorable to his clients.
In addition to exposure for criminal charges under the Stolen Valor Act, making false claims of military service to generate business or investors can also result in civil liability.
Clients, former clients, court employees and others in the legal community who contributed to this report asked not to be named for fear of retaliation by the well-connected attorney.
Baugh reportedly promoted his status as a veteran to generate business, according to current and former clients. Court appointed experts who worked on cases involving Baugh said the attorney would also boast about the high number of enemy fatalities he was personally responsible for during his service in Vietnam. Several experts interpreted Baugh's unusual recitation of his Vietnam enemy death count as a veiled threat to ensure the testimony of experts was favorable to his clients.
In addition to exposure for criminal charges under the Stolen Valor Act, making false claims of military service to generate business or investors can also result in civil liability.
Clients, former clients, court employees and others in the legal community who contributed to this report asked not to be named for fear of retaliation by the well-connected attorney.
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