Attorney Pays Himself $500,000

La Jolla attorney James McGowan, 76,is now facing discipline from the State Bar of California for allegedly takingover $500,000 from the estates of Henry Thackwell and wife Hildegard.

McGowan claims he paid himself fromtheir trust as compensation for legal services rendered but has not provided anaccounting.  The payments occurred over anine-year span but McGowan never sought court approval.

In 2010, the American Cancer Society,as a beneficiary of Hildegard’s estate, challenged McGowan’s claims andultimately settled with him for $200,000.

See Aaron Burgin, Bar: Lawyer Took $500K from Dead Clients, U-T San Diego, Sept. 17,2013.