Bakersfield Lawyer’s Vanishing Act | Bakersfield News

A Bakersfield family law attorney thought to have vanished—leaving clients stranded and his office in chaos—was actually in his office when reporters arrived. Lutie Thompson denies abandoning clients, saying he’s always reachable via email or phone, and that solo practice is tough, especially when clients blame lawyers for losses. He’s relocating to Sacramento to join a new firm, though details remain private. One former client, Ashley Pilja, claims she paid $12,000 for a custody case he never attended, resulting in a default loss and demanding her money back. Thompson says he was on vacation when the office chaos erupted, blaming a break-in that accessed an old storage area. He’s closing his practice July 25 and offering referrals or refunds. No official complaints have been filed with the State Bar of California. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/e27511d626537719