Paul Frederick Opel was admitted to the California Bar 1st December 1981, but has since been disbarred. Paul graduated from Southwestern University SOL.
Lawyer Information
| Name | Paul Frederick Opel |
|---|---|
| First Admitted | 1 December 1981 (42 years, 5 months ago) |
| Status | Disbarred |
| Bar Number | 101874 |
Contact
| Phone Number | 818-776-8129 |
|---|
Schools
| Law School | Southwestern University SOL (Los Angeles CA) |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate School | Santa Clara University (Santa Clara CA) |
Address
| Current Address | Paul F. Opel, 5945 Alonzo Ave Encino, CA 91316 |
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| Map |
History
| 8 September 2012 | Disbarred (11 years, 7 months ago) Disbarment 11-O-15181 |
|---|---|
| 6 August 2012 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (11 years, 8 months ago) Suspended, failed to pass Prof.Resp.Exam 07-O-13557 |
| 3 July 2012 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (11 years, 10 months ago) Suspended, failed to pay fees |
| 13 April 2012 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (12 years ago) Ordered inactive 11-O-15181 |
| 27 January 2012 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (12 years, 3 months ago) Discipline w/actual suspension 11-O-10456 |
| 18 July 2011 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (12 years, 9 months ago) Ordered Inactive/Fee Arb/B&P 6203 |
| 25 June 2011 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (12 years, 10 months ago) Discipline w/actual suspension 07-O-13557 |
| 23 September 1996 | Active (27 years, 7 months ago) |
| 12 August 1996 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (27 years, 8 months ago) Suspended, failed to pay fees |
| 5 October 1995 | Active (28 years, 7 months ago) |
| 31 July 1995 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (28 years, 9 months ago) Suspended, failed to pay fees |
| 30 September 1986 | Active (37 years, 7 months ago) |
| 29 September 1986 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (37 years, 7 months ago) Suspended, failed to pay fees |
| 1 December 1981 | Admitted to the State Bar of California (42 years, 5 months ago) |
Discipline Summaries
September 8, 2012 PAUL FREDERICK OPEL, 57, of Encino was disbarred Sept. 8, 2012, and was ordered to comply with rule 9.20 of the California Rules of Court. Opel stipulated to disbarment after he practiced law while suspended, and violated the Business and Professions Code and the California Rules of Court. He appeared in court in four matters while not entitled.He was suspended in 2011 when, as a result of his failure to supervise his office manager, he misappropriated client funds, failed to maintain client funds in trust, account for client funds, refund unearned fees or release client files. He also failed to perform legal services competently, respond to client inquiries or report a sanction to the State Bar and he settled a claim without advising the client to seek independent legal advice and he split fees with a non-lawyer.Opel also was disciplined in January 2012 for failing to properly refund unearned fees and mishandling client funds. In mitigation, he cooperated with the bar’s investigation and demonstrated remorse.June 25, 2011 PAUL FREDERICK OPEL [#101874], 56, of Encino was suspended for two years, stayed, placed on four years of probation with an actual one-year suspension and he was ordered to take the MPRE and comply with rule 9.20 of the California Rules of Court. The order took effect June 25, 2011. He also received a three-year stayed suspension, four years of probation with a two-year actual suspension and was ordered to prove his rehabilitation in a Jan. 27, 2012, order. In April 2007, Opel began sharing office space with a non-lawyer who became his office manager. Opel allowed the office manager, whom he later fired, to administer his firm. In the first disciplinary action, he stipulated to numerous acts of misconduct in 12 cases. As the result of his failure to supervise the office manager, Opel misappropriated client funds, failed to maintain client funds in trust, account for client funds, refund unearned fees or release client files. He also failed to perform legal services competently, respond to client inquiries or report a sanction to the State Bar and he settled a claim without advising the client to seek independent legal advice and he split fees with a non-lawyer.He had no discipline record in 30 years and expressed remorse for his actions. However, Opel was disciplined again a few months later for three cases of misconduct committed in 2010 and 2011. In the first, he did not refund a $5,000 advance fee to a client who terminated his services. In another matter, a client paid a $1,600 advance fee for a divorce and child support. The office manager told the client the petition had been filed when it had not. He also refused to schedule an appointment between the client and Opel. She won a small claims judgment for $1,755, but Opel has not refunded any money to her.In the third matter, Opel admitted he allowed his office manager to pose as an attorney who agreed to handle a client’s civil matter for $1,500. Opel made court appearances for the client and split the fee with the office manager.Because the later misconduct represents a continuation of the earlier misconduct, Opel was ordered to establish his rehabilitation. |