Donald Robert Levitt is an inactive member of the California Bar and was admitted 1st December 1981. Donald graduated from California Western SOL.
Lawyer Information
| Name | Donald Robert Levitt |
|---|---|
| First Admitted | 1 December 1981 (42 years, 5 months ago) |
| Status | Inactive |
| Bar Number | 101040 |
Contact
| Current Email | [email protected] |
|---|---|
| Phone Number | 559-349-0555 |
Schools
| Law School | California Western SOL (San Diego CA) |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate School | See Registration Card |
Address
| Current Address | 3585 W Beechwood Ave Ste 105 Fresno, CA 93711-0600 |
|---|---|
| Map |
History
| 31 December 2018 | Inactive (5 years, 4 months ago) |
|---|---|
| 14 February 2008 | Active (16 years, 2 months ago) |
| 18 September 2006 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (17 years, 7 months ago) Suspended, failed to pay fees |
| 16 April 2006 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (18 years ago) Discipline w/actual suspension 01-C-05215 |
| 20 May 2004 | Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 04-O-10766 (19 years, 11 months ago) |
| 13 May 2004 | Conviction record transmitted to State Bar Court 01-C-05215 (19 years, 11 months ago) |
| 26 November 2003 | Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 02-O-12115 (20 years, 5 months ago) |
| 9 June 1996 | Discipline, probation; no actual susp. 92-O-19336 (27 years, 11 months ago) |
| 1 December 1981 | Admitted to the State Bar of California (42 years, 5 months ago) |
Discipline Summaries
April 16, 2006 DONALD ROBERT LEVITT [#101040], 51, of San Jose was suspended for two years, stayed, placed on two years of probation with a nine-month actual suspension and was ordered to take the MPRE within one year and comply with rule 955. The order took effect April 16, 2006. The State Bar Court found that Levitt committed misconduct in three matters.He was convicted of misdemeanor battery in 2002 after he hit a 12-year-old, who was driving a go-cart, in the face. The child had veered into Levitt’s driveway and hit a garbage can. The child’s guardian later sued Levitt and won a $20,000 judgment for compensatory damages and $50,000 in punitive damages. He has not paid any of the award.The court found that his conduct did not involve moral turpitude but warranted discipline.In a marital dissolution, the court ordered that the opposing attorney be paid $1,000 from funds paid to Levitt by his client. Levitt never paid anything, despite having billed his client for more than $6,500 in legal fees and another $1,000 to pay the opposing lawyer. A dispute over the fee went to fee arbitration, where Levitt was awarded $1,238 when the client did not show up.The bar court found that Levitt violated a court order and committed an act of moral turpitude by billing the client for the extra thousand dollars. He also did not provide an accounting to his client.The court also found that Levitt committed two acts of moral turpitude in a dispute he had with a Fresno lumber company. He tried to return material he had specially ordered from the company, but it would not accept the return because of a company policy that refuses returns on special orders. As a result, Levitt dumped the material, for which he had paid $600, in front of the store.The same day, he purchased different goods from the store, wrote a check for $478.22, then went to his bank and directed a stop payment on the check. In the order, he stated the check was lost, when it was not.The lumber company filed a small claims action against Levitt, and in his response he said he’d filed for bankruptcy in Florida, an action that halted the small claims. However, he filed the bankruptcy prior to his dispute with the lumber company and did not list it as a creditor. The bar court found that Levitt knew, or should have known, that the automatic stay provided by the bankruptcy petition did not apply to his issuance of a check to the lumber company.In mitigation, Levitt had severe family and financial problems at the time of the misconduct and he cooperated with the bar’s investigation.He was disciplined in 1996 for seven acts of misconduct in three client matters.June 9, 1996 DONALD ROBERT LEVITT [#101040], 40, of Fresno was suspended for 60 days, stayed, and placed on probation for two years, effective June 9, 1996. He was ordered to pass the CPRE. Levitt's misconduct involved four matters and included failure to communicate, failure to promptly return client files and entrusted funds, and advising a client to file a frivolous bankruptcy petition.In one instance, Levitt was employed by a client for representation in his divorce proceedings. Levitt met with opposing counsel and attempted to negotiate a temporary settlement favorable to his client.However, Levitt was unsuccessful and, once he was outside the courtroom, advised his client to file immediately for bankruptcy. He also told him to withdraw money from the bank and charge up his Sears credit card in order to stay the civil proceeding and maximize his options for a better settlement.The client objected to Levitt's advice, but reluctantly filed for bankruptcy immediately and in time for the courtroom proceeding.The proceeding was stayed, but the client later fired Levitt, hired another attorney and voluntarily dismissed his bankruptcy petition.In mitigation, Levitt believed that the client wished to "buy time" to seek reconciliation by whatever legal means were available.Levitt was admitted to the bar in 1981 and has no prior record of discipline. |