Michael Joseph Ackerman was admitted to the California Bar 3rd December 1982, but has since been disbarred. Michael graduated from Santa Clara University SOL.
Lawyer Information
| Name | Michael Joseph Ackerman |
|---|---|
| First Admitted | 3 December 1982 (42 years, 6 months ago) |
| Status | Disbarred |
| Bar Number | 104170 |
Contact
| Phone Number | 415-493-2500 |
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Schools
| Law School | Santa Clara University SOL (Santa Clara CA) |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate School | University of California Santa Barbara (CA) |
Address
| Current Address | 2666 E Bayshore Rd Palo Alto, CA 94303 |
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| Map |
History
| 9 November 2001 | Disbarred (23 years, 6 months ago) Disbarment 00-N-14215 |
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| 25 May 2001 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (24 years ago) Ordered inactive 00-N-14215 |
| 6 April 2001 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (24 years, 1 month ago) Ordered inactive 00-N-14215 |
| 16 January 2001 | Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 00-N-14215 (24 years, 4 months ago) |
| 17 August 2000 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (24 years, 9 months ago) Discipline w/actual suspension 98-O-01312 |
| 7 January 2000 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (25 years, 4 months ago) Ordered inactive 98-O-03490 |
| 13 December 1999 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (25 years, 5 months ago) Ordered inactive 98-O-01312 |
| 28 October 1999 | Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 97-O-18442 (25 years, 7 months ago) |
| 3 December 1982 | Admitted to the State Bar of California (42 years, 6 months ago) |
Discipline Summaries
November 9, 2001 MICHAEL JOSEPH ACKERMAN [#104170], 45, of Palo Alto was disbarred Nov. 9, 2001, and ordered to comply with rule 955 of the California Rules of Court. As part of a 2000 discipline order, Ackerman was required to comply with rule 955 by notifying his clients, opposing counsel and other pertinent parties that he was suspended from practice and to submit to the Supreme Court an affidavit stating that he had done so. He never filed the affidavit.Non-compliance with rule 955 is grounds for disbarment.The underlying discipline was the result of failure to avoid interests adverse to a client, failure to cooperate with the bar’s investigation and committing an act of moral turpitude.Ackerman did not participate in the disbarment proceedings and his default was entered.August 17, 2000 MICHAEL JOSEPH ACKERMAN [#104170], 44, of Palo Alto was suspended for five years, stayed, and was actually suspended for three years and until he proves his rehabilitation, makes restitution, and the State Bar Court grants a motion to end the suspension. He must comply with any probation conditions imposed at that time, take the MPRE and comply with rule 955. The order took effect Aug. 17, 2000. In a default proceeding, the State Bar Court found Ackerman committed multiple acts of misconduct, including entering into unfair business transactions with two clients, committing acts of moral turpitude in two client matters, failing to perform legal services for one client, and failing to cooperate with three bar investigations of his actions.In one matter, Ackerman obtained two loans, totaling $8,000, from a client but did not put the terms of the loans in writing, did not provide a promissory note, did not offer an agreement for payment of interest despite the fact that the client obtained the money from a cash advance on his credit card and had to pay interest, did not provide any security and did not set a date for repayment.The client fired Ackerman and obtained a default judgment for repayment of the loan; no money has been repaid.In a medical malpractice case, Ackerman failed to appear at five case management hearings and one status review hearing, leading to the court’s dismissal of the action. For 14 months, he told the clients the case was still viable and said he was engaged in settlement negotiations, acts of moral turpitude. When he was fired, he delayed two months before returning his clients’ file. He did not cooperate with the bar’s investigation.Ackerman borrowed $16,000 from another client, who signed two promissory notes stating that Ackerman had advised him he could seek independent legal advice when, in fact, he had not done so. Ackerman provided no security for either loan. When he made his first loan payment 16 months later, the check bounced and the client obtained a default judgment against Ackerman, who has not repaid any of the loan.His misrepresentations constituted moral turpitude.Ackerman has no record of discipline in 12 years of practice. |