DISBARMENT
Alan W. Courtney,
State Bar #93703, Creston (May 17, 2012).
Courtney, 57, was disbarred after being convicted of a felony involving moral turpitude.
The order took effect June 16, 2012
Tore B. Dahlin,
State Bar #132353, Modesto (February 15, 2012).
Dahlin, 59, was disbarred for misappropriating funds, failing to maintain client funds in a client trust account, misrepresenting matters, failing to obey court orders, and engaging in acts involving moral turpitude.
The order took effect March 16, 2012
Herbert Davis,
State Bar #30870, Tarzana (May 23, 2012).
Davis, 76, was disbarred for failing to competently perform legal services and failing to refund unearned fees.
The order took effect June 22, 2012
Thomas P. Giordano,
State Bar #155548, Irvine (May 17, 2012).
Giordano, 52, was disbarred for failing to competently perform legal services, failing to promptly refund unearned fees, settling a legal malpractice claim without informing the client in writing that the client was entitled to seek the advice of an independent lawyer, and engaging in an act involving moral turpitude.
The order took effect June 16, 2012
Zachary I. Gonzalez,
State Bar #259663, West Covina (May 17, 2012).
Gonzalez, 32, was disbarred for failing to competently perform legal services, failing to promptly refund an unearned fee, and failing to return a client file.
The order took effect June 16, 2012
Vincent L. Goodwin,
State Bar #158570, Mission Viejo (May 18, 2012).
Goodwin, 54, was disbarred for failing to competently perform legal services, failing to maintain a client trust account, misappropriating funds, failing to respond to reasonable status inquiries, and failing to promptly release client files upon termination of employment.
The order took effect June 17, 2012
Stanley G. Hilton,
State Bar #65990, San Francisco (May 17, 2012).
Hilton, 62, was disbarred for failing to render an accounting, failing to promptly pay client funds, failing to release a file, reckless driving, engaging in the unauthorized practice of law, charging an illegal fee, and engaging in an act involving moral turpitude.
The order took effect June 16, 2012
Robert M. Jason,
State Bar #100944, Beverly Hills (February 3, 2012).
Jason, 56, was summarily disbarred for violating 26 U.S.C. § 7206(a), filing a false tax return, a felony involving moral turpitude. The conviction is now final, and the State Bar concluded that it met the criteria for summary disbarment.
The order took effect March 4, 2012
Luann M. Kelley,
State Bar #131841, San Diego (May 17, 2012).
Kelley, 61, was disbarred for misappropriating funds, an act that involved moral turpitude.
The order took effect June 16, 2012
Thomas G. Key,
State Bar #152520, Tustin (February 3, 2012).
Key, 62, was disbarred for engaging in the unauthorized practice of law, and collecting advance fees from clients to negotiate home loan modifications in states where he was not licensed to practice.
The order took effect March 4, 2012
Matthew G. Krane,
State Bar #94051, Los Angeles (May 22, 2012).
Krane, 58, was disbarred after being convicted of a felony involving moral turpitude.
The order took effect June 21, 2012
James F. Lefebvre,
State Bar #171779, Pomona (February 3, 2012).
Lefebvre, 47, was disbarred for entering into a business transaction and acquiring an interest adverse to his client, failing to inform his client of significant developments, failing to competently perform legal services, failing to obey court orders, failing to report court sanctions, and engaging in an act involving moral turpitude.
The order took effect March 4, 2012
Richard A. Lima,
State Bar #184783, Fresno (July 16, 2012).
Lima, 50, was disbarred for failing to comply with conditions to a previous order of discipline.
The order took effect August 15, 2012
John E. Linneball,
State Bar #181795, San Francisco (May 23, 2012).
Linneball, 41, was disbarred for willfully violating conditions to a previous order of discipline.
The order took effect June 22, 2012
John F. Morken,
State Bar #153979, Tiburon (May 18, 2012).
Morken, 48, was disbarred for failing to comply with conditions to a previous order of discipline.
The order took effect June 17, 2012
Thomas C. Nelson,
State Bar #82506, San Diego (May 17, 2012).
Nelson, 58, was disbarred for failing to competently perform legal services, failing to render an accounting, and failing to return unearned fees.
The order took effect June 16, 2012
Todd R. Phillippi,
State Bar #134391, Midlothian, TX (May 18, 2012).
Phillippi, 51, was disbarred after being convicted of a felony involving moral turpitude.
The order took effect June 17, 2012
Philip A. Putman,
State Bar #51368, Huntington Beach (May 17, 2012).
Putman, 77, was disbarred for falsely and excessively billing a client, an act involving moral turpitude.
The order took effect June 16, 2012
Piotr G. Reysner,
State Bar #210937, Sacramento (May 17, 2012).
Reysner, 38, was disbarred for failing to competently perform legal services, improperly withdrawing from representation, disobeying court orders, failing to keep a client reasonably informed of significant developments, failing to deposit advance costs into a client trust account, failing to promptly pay client funds, failing to render an accounting, failing to promptly refund an unearned fee, failing to promptly release a client’s file, failing to insure that an attorney-client relationship would not be interfered with, and engaging in acts involving moral turpitude.
The order took effect June 16, 2012
Nathan J. Sheridan,
State Bar #208940, Lake Forest (May 22, 2012).
Sheridan, 39, was disbarred following his conviction in three petty theft matters, and for engaging in acts involving moral turpitude. Subsequent to the criminal convictions, he was required to complete certain programs but chose to stop taking prescription medication and committed additional thefts.
The order took effect June 21, 2012
Gregory J. Tokarczyk,
State Bar #150924, Redwood City (May 22, 2012).
Tokarczyk, 48, was disbarred for failing to comply with conditions to a previous order of discipline.
The order took effect June 21, 2012
Anthony J. Turner,
State Bar #139355, Montebello (February 3, 2012).
Turner, 56, was disbarred for failing to competently perform legal services, failing to promptly respond to reasonable status inquiries, failing to refund unearned fees, failing to maintain his client trust account, misappropriating funds, collecting an illegal fee, failing to keep a client reasonably informed of significant developments, aiding a person in the unauthorized practice of law, disobeying court orders, failing to report sanctions imposed against him, and committing an act involving moral turpitude, dishonesty, or corruption.
The order took effect March 2, 2012
Michelle R. Walker,
State Bar #167375, Los Angeles (May 17, 2012).
Walker, 44, was summarily disbarred following her conviction for violating 26 U.S.C. § 7212, corruptly endeavoring to obstruct and impede the due administration of the federal income tax laws, a felony involving moral turpitude.
The order took effect June 16, 2012
Johnny L. Welch,
State Bar #181372, Redlands (May 22, 2012).
Welch, 65, was disbarred for failing to maintain client funds in trust, misappropriating funds, and engaging in an act involving moral turpitude.
The order took effect June 21, 2012
Kent C. Wilson,
State Bar #58652, San Diego (May 17, 2012).
Wilson, 65, was disbarred for improperly withdrawing from representation, failing to competently perform legal services, failing to promptly refund unearned fees, misappropriating client funds, and failing to provide an accounting.
The order took effect June 16, 2012
Mervyn H. Wolf,
State Bar #41639, Calabasas (March 21, 2012).
Wolf, 72, was disbarred for misappropriating client funds and failing to comply with a previous order of discipline.
The order took effect April 20, 2012
Actions From Previous Issues
Frank M. Ennix, III,
State Bar #40459, Oakland (January 24
, 2012).
Ennix, 76, was disbarred for representing clients with potential conflicts of interest without obtaining their informed written consent, failing to competently perform legal services, failing to keep a client reasonably informed of significant developments, failing to respond to a settlement offer, and failing to comply with rule 9.20 of the Rules of Court.
In aggravation, Ennix had a record of prior discipline. He engaged in multiple acts of wrongdoing that demonstrated a pattern of misconduct. In mitigation, Ennix cooperated with the State Bar during its investigation and proceedings.
The order took effect February 23, 2012
This action originally appeared in our October 2012 issue.
Armen E. Gekchyan,
State Bar #220324, Glendale (January 24
, 2012).
Gekchyan, 36, was disbarred after being convicted of violating Penal Code § 487, grand theft, § 186.10, money laundering, and § 470, forgery, felonies involving moral turpitude.
In April 2011 Gekchyan pleaded guilty to violating the above code sections. The conviction is now final, and the State Bar concluded that it met the criteria for summary disbarment.
The order took effect February 23, 2012
This action originally appeared in our October 2012 issue.
Richard Hamm,
State Bar #61401, San Jose (January 24
, 2012).
Hamm, 65, was disbarred for violating conditions to a previous order of discipline, failing to comply with state laws, practicing law while suspended, making misrepresentations to the Office of Probation, issuing client trust account checks against insufficient funds, and commingling funds.
In aggravation, Hamm had a record of prior discipline. Also, he engaged in multiple acts of wrongdoing. In mitigation, Hamm displayed remorse, and his misconduct did not harm clients. Further, he actively participated in the Lawyer Assistance Program.
The order took effect February 23, 2012
This action originally appeared in our October 2012 issue.
Robert Y. Lee,
State Bar #213848, Los Angeles (January 10
, 2012).
Lee, 38, was disbarred for misappropriating client funds and engaging in acts involving moral turpitude, dishonesty, or corruption.
In aggravation, Lee had a record of prior discipline and his wrongdoing caused serious harm to a client. In mitigation, Lee stipulated to the facts, his culpability, and his discipline.
The order took effect February 9, 2012
This action originally appeared in our October 2012 issue.
Barry L. McCown,
State Bar #89603, Bakersfield (January 10
, 2012).
McCown, 59, was disbarred for failing to competently perform legal services, disobeying a court order, and engaging in acts involving moral turpitude, dishonesty, or corruption.
In aggravation, McCown had a record of prior discipline. His misconduct involved trust fund violations, and it caused significant harm to the client, the public, or the administration of justice. In mitigation, McCown acted in good faith. During the period of his misconduct he experienced serious medical problems.
The order took effect February 9, 2012
This action originally appeared in our October 2012 issue.
Steven T. Mendelsohn,
State Bar #99952, San Francisco (January 30
, 2012).
Mendelsohn, 61, was disbarred for failing to competently perform legal services, sharing a legal fee with a nonattorney, failing to promptly respond to reasonable status inquiries, and failing to promptly refund unearned fees.
In aggravation, Mendelsohn’s misconduct caused significant harm to his clients. In mitigation, Mendelsohn had no record of prior discipline since being admitted to the bar in 1981. He cooperated with the State Bar’s investigation and proceedings, and he displayed remorse for his conduct. During the period of his misconduct he experienced emotional and physical difficulties. Though the State Bar did not seek disbarment, Mendelsohn stipulated to disbarment to resolve the matter because he was no longer physically or mentally able to practice law.
The order took effect February 29, 2012
This action originally appeared in our October 2012 issue.
Philip E. Myers,
State Bar #77543, Pasadena (January 12
, 2012).
Myers, 60, was disbarred for failing to maintain client funds in trust, misappropriating funds, failing to provide an accounting, and engaging in acts involving moral turpitude, dishonesty, or corruption.
In aggravation, Myers engaged in multiple acts of misconduct. His wrongdoing significantly harmed the beneficiaries of the trust, and he failed to participate in the State Bar’s investigation and proceedings. In mitigation, Myers had no record of prior discipline since being admitted to the State Bar in 1977.
The order took effect February 11, 2012
This action originally appeared in our October 2012 issue.
James W. Nelsen,
State Bar #74830, Salinas (January 24
, 2012).
Nelsen, 71, was disbarred for appearing for a party without authorization, seeking to mislead a judge, failing to promptly disburse funds to a client, failing to maintain client funds in trust, misappropriating funds, and engaging in acts involving moral turpitude.
In aggravation, Nelsen’s misconduct caused significant harm to his client and was surrounded by bad faith and overreaching. He displayed indifference toward rectification of or atonement for the consequences of his misconduct. In mitigation, Nelsen had no record of prior discipline since being admitted to the bar in 1977.
The order took effect February 23, 2012
This action originally appeared in our October 2012 issue.
James R. Patterson,
State Bar #171580, San Diego (January 5
, 2012).
Patterson, 47, was disbarred for failing to competently perform legal services, improperly withdrawing from representation, failing to release a client file, failing to promptly refund unearned fees, failing to maintain a current address with the State Bar, and engaging in acts involving moral turpitude, dishonesty, or corruption.
In aggravation, Patterson’s misconduct involved multiple acts of wrongdoing that caused significant harm to clients, and he failed to participate in the State Bar’s investigation and proceedings.
The order took effect February 4, 2012
This action originally appeared in our October 2012 issue.
Joseph E. Rowland,
State Bar #147636, Santa Ana (January 30
, 2012).
Rowland, 64, was disbarred for failing to competently perform legal services, failing to promptly respond to reasonable status inquiries, failing to return a client’s file, committing an act involving moral turpitude, failing to promptly refund unearned fees, and failing to comply with rule 9.20 of the Rules of Court.
In aggravation, Rowland had a record of prior discipline, and his misconduct significantly harmed a client. He demonstrated indifference toward rectification of or atonement for the consequences of his misconduct.
The order took effect February 29, 2012
This action originally appeared in our October 2012 issue.
