Attorney Reinstated by the State Bar

A Ventura attorney whose conviction for possession of LSD was overturned on appeal has been reinstated to practice law, the State Bar of California confirmed Wednesday.

Douglas A. Palaschak was arrested in 1991, along with his secretary, for participating in an LSD party at the attorney’s office on Telephone Road after a co-worker informed authorities. The secretary, Jessica Jobin, had 46 doses of LSD in her purse when police raided the office and later pleaded guilty to possession of the hallucinogenic drug.

Palaschak was convicted in 1992 of a single misdemeanor count of possession and sentenced to three years probation and 90 days in jail. The sentence was suspended pending his appeal.

The attorney was acquitted of furnishing LSD to a minor--the 17-year-old employee who alerted police--and conspiracy to possess LSD.

In appealing his conviction, Palaschak admitted taking 1 1/2 doses of LSD but successfully argued that he had no additional drugs in his possession and that being under the influence of LSD is not a crime in California.

The state Court of Appeal reversed his conviction Dec. 23.

The State Bar, which had issued an interim suspension of Palaschak’s license after his conviction, reinstated the attorney as of Tuesday, spokeswoman Kim McCready said.

Palaschak, who had contended that the suspension was improper while he appealed his case, on Wednesday described the series of events as challenging.

“If I had a family, I probably would have changed my profession,” he said. “Since I don’t have a family, I was able to stay focused on the legal battle.”