Hot Line Seeks ‘Victimized’ Clients of Lawyer : Investigation: Sheriff’s fraud unit will handle calls connected to possible wrongdoing by attorney James D. Gunderson, who has made himself the recipient of millions from elderly people.

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.

Gates issued a press release stating that his department’s fraud investigators “would like to speak with any persons who feel they have been victimized, or if they believe undue pressure or influence were applied by (lawyer James D.) Gunderson in the writing or rewriting of their will.

“The sheriff’s fraud unit is looking into the matter in an attempt to determine if there is criminal wrongdoing,” the statement said.

The sheriff also said that his fraud unit’s investigation is being coordinated with that of the State Bar of California, which has launched a similar investigation into Gunderson’s practice.

Sheriff’s officials said those with information should call (714) 567-3881.

Last week, in a rare departure from customary practice, the State Bar said that, to safeguard members of the public, it was disclosing that it had initiated an investigation of Gunderson, 67, who boasts that he has represented as many as 7,000 residents of the Leisure World retirement community. His Laguna Hills office is just across the street from Leisure World.

Gunderson is being investigated by the bar, which oversees discipline and accreditation of the state’s 133,000 lawyers, for receiving substantial bequests from his clients under questionable circumstances, for allegedly taking actions that were not in the best interest of his clients and for potential conflicts of interest.

Except in very rare circumstances, said State Bar President Harvey I. Saferstein, the organization refuses to disclose investigations of lawyers in California to protect them from false accusations.

The State Bar and Sheriff’s Department investigations, as well as two others launched by Tully H. Seymour, the chief probate court judge in Orange County, and the Orange County Bar Assn., followed a Times report that Gunderson had arranged to receive millions from the estates of deceased Leisure World retirees, despite a longstanding California Supreme Court ruling that anything more than a “modest” gift from a client’s estate raises questions of impropriety.

The Times report noted how Gunderson received, among other gifts, $3.5 million in stock from one estate and a 316-acre Fresno County farm from another.

Gunderson has generally denied any wrongdoing. When The Times sought a comment from him Tuesday about developments, a reporter was referred to his attorney, who did not return a telephone call.

Capt. Andy Romero, who heads the sheriff’s investigation unit, said Gates had decided to set up the hot line because “he’s always concerned, especially when (a case involves) the elderly and people who can’t take care of themselves.”

“If there is some illegality, we want to get to the bottom of it,” Romero said. “We want to know if there are other victims out there.”

On Tuesday, the sheriff’s action was welcomed by the State Bar and Superior Court Judge Seymour, who has asked court investigators to review all probate files in which Gunderson or his law partners were involved. Seymour also instructed investigators to scrutinize all cases in which Gunderson served as trustee or legal guardian for someone who was judged incompetent to handle his or her own affairs.

Seymour said Tuesday he was “pleased that they’re taking this level of interest in the case.”

Similarly, Saferstein said that he was “pleased that anything and everything is being done to get this situation under control. My experience is when one person takes control, it often helps to focus resources.”

Saferstein said the sheriff’s investigation on alleged criminal wrongdoing may be more important than the probe by the State Bar, which is trying to determine Gunderson’s “ethics and fitness to practice law.”

The State Bar president also revealed that he has asked the chairman of a standing bar committee to determine if existing rules regarding an attorney receiving gifts from his client “is good enough.”

He said that there has been “great talk inside the bar” that its rules on attorneys receiving gifts from clients may have to be changed, adding that the committee was looking into the matter.

State Bar officials said anyone with information about possible bar infractions by Gunderson can call their consumer hot line at 1-800-843-9053.