Eric Tarankow was first admitted to the California Bar 1st December 1981, but is currently resigned with charges pending. Eric graduated from California Western SOL.
Lawyer Information
| Name | Eric Tarankow |
|---|---|
| First Admitted | 1 December 1981 (42 years, 5 months ago) |
| Status | Resigned with Charges Pending |
| Bar Number | 101427 |
Contact
| Phone Number | (213) 250-7111 |
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Schools
| Law School | California Western SOL (San Diego CA) |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate School | University of California at Los Angeles (CA) |
Address
| Current Address | 3010 Wilshire Blvd #545 Los Angeles, CA 90010 |
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| Map |
History
| 21 June 2006 | Resigned (17 years, 10 months ago) |
|---|---|
| 20 November 2004 | Not Eligible To Practice Law in CA (19 years, 5 months ago) |
| 27 November 2002 | Active (21 years, 5 months ago) |
| 25 November 2002 | Not Eligible To Practice Law in CA (21 years, 5 months ago) |
| 25 September 2002 | Active (21 years, 7 months ago) |
| 16 September 2002 | Not Eligible To Practice Law in CA (21 years, 7 months ago) |
| 1 December 1981 | Admitted to The State Bar of California (42 years, 5 months ago) |
Discipline Summaries
March 5, 2006 ERIC TARANKOW [#101427], 57, of Los Angeles Probation was revoked, the previous stay of suspension was lifted and he was suspended for four years, stayed, placed on five years of probation with a three-year actual suspension, and was ordered to make restitution. The order took effect March 5, 2006. Tarankow resigned June 21. He did not comply with conditions of a 2004 probation: he did not submit a CPA report, enroll in the bar’s law practice management section or respond to inquiries from the bar’s probation department.Tarankow has a record three prior disciplines, beginning in 1996, when he was placed on probation for failing to perform legal services competently, maintain client funds or supervise an employee and for misappropriating funds. He was disciplined in 2001 for violating a court order and in 2004 for committing acts of moral turpitude and multiple violations of nine other rules of professional conduct.He did not participate in the most recent proceedings.November 20, 2004 ERIC TARANKOW [#101427], 56, of Los Angeles was suspended for four years, stayed, placed on five years of probation with a two-year actual suspension and was ordered to make restitution, prove his rehabilitation, take the MPRE and comply with rule 955. The order took effect Nov. 20, 2004. Tarankow stipulated to 36 counts of misconduct in 10 client matters. Among other things, he failed to perform legal services competently, keep clients informed of developments in their cases or refund unearned fees, and he committed acts of moral turpitude and abandoned three clients.In an immigration matter, for example, Tarankow admitted to five acts of misconduct. His assistant met with an individual who had been detained by law enforcement and told the man that for $3,500, Tarankow could “reopen†his case, “clean†his record, reactivate his work permit and cancel any deportation proceedings. The assistant said the client’s bail was set at $5,000, but if Tarankow received $2,500, the client would be released in two and a half days. In fact, no bail was set. The assistant also said Tarankow had sent $5,000 to the INS for bail, when in fact no money had been sent.When the client was not released, his girlfriend complained to Tarankow’s assistant, who told her to be patient. The girlfriend demanded a refund of $3,000 and a copy of the client’s file. The client never heard from Tarankow’s office again.Tarankow took over another immigration matter from a lawyer who resigned with charges pending. He accepted at least $350 from the clients and another $1,000 on a related residency matter. Tarankow sent a one-page letter to the Consulate General of Mexico on behalf of his clients, requesting documents necessary to prepare an immigration request. That was the only document he prepared.The client demanded a refund of the money, but Tarankow did not respond. The clients won a $1,650 judgment in small claims court, which Tarankow paid late. He provided no legal services to the clients.Tarankow also appeared before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in two separate matters without being admitted to practice before that court. The Ninth Circuit ordered him to respond to an order to show cause, but he did not do so. In each case, he also was ordered to submit the date of his admittance to the bar of that court or apply for admission, and did not do so. He was sanctioned $500 in each case.Tarankow was disciplined in 2001 for failing to obey a court order and in 1996 for failing to perform legal services competently, deposit client funds in a trust account or promptly pay out client funds.June 9, 2001 ERIC TARANKOW [#101427], 52, of Los Angeles was suspended for one year, stayed, placed on two years of probation and was ordered to take the MPRE within one year. The order took effect June 9, 2001. Tarankow stipulated to one count of failing to obey a court order.He did not appear at two hearings in an immigration matter. He tried to withdraw as his client’s attorney two days before the first hearing, but the judge ordered him to appear, warning that failure to do so would result in a complaint to the State Bar.When Tarankow did not show up, the judge continued the hearing to another date, but Tarankow failed to appear then as well.He also was disciplined in 1996 for failure to perform legal services competently, deposit client funds in a trust account or promptly pay out client funds.In mitigation, he cooperated with the bar’s investigation and took steps to demonstrate remorse.December 18, 1996 ERIC TARANKOW [#101427], 48, of Los Angeles was suspended for one year, stayed, placed on two years of probation and was ordered to take the MPRE within one year. The order took effect Dec. 18, 1996. In one matter, Tarankow was hired to obtain political asylum for eight clients. The individual he hired as a translator obtained only minimal biographical information about the clients and had each of them sign a blank immigration form. Each was denied asylum because of the lack of information. In another immigration matter, Tarankow forged a $1,030 check his client wrote to a newspaper for a required advertisement. He misappropriated the money, although he later repaid his client.In mitigation, Tarankow has not been disciplined since his 1981 admission to the bar and his conduct appears aberrational. |