Scotts Valley, CA 95066
29 August 1997 | Disbarred (27 years, 9 months ago) Disbarment 93-O-10054 |
---|---|
5 February 1997 | Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 96-O-01715 (28 years, 4 months ago) |
25 January 1997 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (28 years, 5 months ago) Ordered inactive 93-O-10054 |
21 October 1996 | Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 93-O-10054 (28 years, 8 months ago) |
10 June 1982 | Admitted to the State Bar of California (43 years ago) |
August 29, 1997 ROBERT PATRICK FISHER [#103115], 40, of Scotts Valley was disbarred Aug. 29, 1997, and ordered to comply with rule 955. In this default proceeding, the bar court’s hearing judge wrote, "Fisher repeatedly mishandled the funds entrusted to him. He lied to the State Bar about the handling of his trust account. He repeatedly committed acts of moral turpitude." Fisher was disbarred for misconduct which involved lying to two clients about the settlement of their cases in a condominium homeowners’ civil action. He also induced them to sign fraudulent claims releases, including release of a malpractice claim against him. Fisher did not inform the clients that their cases had been dismissed. The two clients from the same condominium complex hired Fisher to represent them in separate civil actions. Not only did he neglect to inform both clients of potential or actual case dismissals, he also raised the possibility that their claims could be settled for $6,000-$7,000 in exchange for an assignment and release of any malpractice claims. He paid both clients with his own funds and neglected to advise them to seek independent counsel. In addition, Fisher’s client trust account balance showed that he repeatedly wire-transferred those funds in and out of his general account, issuing bad checks along the way. In 1993, he received a settlement check for $126,500 on behalf of another client. The balance in his trust fund account dropped to about $1,000 before the client received any of the funds. He eventually paid the client $21,000, but the balance of his client trust account again dropped to zero. |