Walter David Channels is an active member of the California Bar and was admitted 15th April 1983. Walter graduated from Western State University.
Lawyer Information
| Name | Walter David Channels |
|---|---|
| First Admitted | 15 April 1983 (41 years ago) |
| Status | Active |
| Bar Number | 107719 |
Contact
| Current Email | [email protected] |
|---|---|
| Phone Number | 714-374-1242 |
| Fax Number | 714-374-1282 |
Schools
| Law School | Western State University (CA) |
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| Undergraduate School | San Jose State University (San Jose CA) |
Address
| Current Address | Channels Law Office, 16755 Von Karman Ave, Ste 200 Irvine, CA 92606-4963 |
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| Map | |
| Previous Address | Law Offices of Walter D Channels 129 W Wilson St Ste 200 Costa Mesa, CA 92627 |
History
| 1 December 2003 | Active (20 years, 5 months ago) |
|---|---|
| 16 September 2003 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (20 years, 7 months ago) Suspended, failed to pay fees |
| 29 March 2002 | Active (22 years, 1 month ago) |
| 29 December 2001 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (22 years, 4 months ago) Discipline w/actual suspension 98-O-03248 |
| 7 December 2000 | Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 98-O-03365 (23 years, 5 months ago) |
| 29 September 2000 | Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 98-O-03248 (23 years, 7 months ago) |
| 14 September 1998 | Active (25 years, 7 months ago) |
| 31 July 1998 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (25 years, 9 months ago) Discipline w/actual suspension 97-O-12312 |
| 5 September 1997 | Active (26 years, 8 months ago) |
| 12 August 1997 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (26 years, 9 months ago) Suspended, failed to pass Prof.Resp.Exam 93-O-19966 |
| 22 April 1997 | Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 97-O-12312 (27 years ago) |
| 3 September 1996 | Active (27 years, 8 months ago) |
| 20 July 1996 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (27 years, 9 months ago) Discipline w/actual suspension 93-O-19966 |
| 31 March 1995 | Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 93-O-19966 (29 years, 1 month ago) |
| 14 September 1994 | Active (29 years, 7 months ago) |
| 29 August 1994 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (29 years, 8 months ago) Suspended, failed to pay fees |
| 15 April 1983 | Admitted to the State Bar of California (41 years ago) |
Discipline Summaries
December 29, 2001 WALTER DAVID CHANNELS [107719], 55, of Huntington Beach was suspended for one year, stayed, placed on two years of probation with a 90-day actual suspension and was ordered to take the MPRE and comply with rule 955. The order took effect Dec. 29, 2001. Channels stipulated to misconduct in two matters. In the first, he withdrew from representation in the case of a client who owed him thousands of dollars in fees from a previous matter. According to Channels, the new case was to be limited to filing an answer and pursuing a strategy of extending litigation in an attempt to settle the matter. He has maintained continuously that his client was aware that the case would proceed by way of default because there was no viable defense. It was for that reason that he discontinued his representation. Prior to doing so, however, Channels filed an answer, signed a joint case management statement and filed a motion to continue the trial. He failed to appear at two hearings and the court entered a judgment by default against his client. Channels never requested permission to withdraw from representation and did not file a substitution of attorney. In the second matter, he practiced law while suspended by representing a criminal defendant, appearing in court telephonically. Channels said he was attempting to have the matter continued until after his suspension ended, but he never informed the court that he was suspended. The suspension was the result of not complying with probation conditions attached to a 1996 discipline which was issued for failure to perform legal services competently or communicate with a client. Channels also was privately reproved in 1992. In mitigation, he cooperated with the bar's investigation. July 31, 1998 WALTER DAVID CHANNELS [#107719], 52, of Huntington Beach was suspended for four years, stayed, placed on two years of probation with a 45-day actual suspension, and was ordered to make restitution. The order took effect July 31, 1998. Channels was disciplined in 1996 and was ordered to make restitution in two payments over the subsequent 12 months.As he was making arrangements to obtain a loan in order to make the first payment, a former client who also was the son of the client to whom Channels was making restitution, sued for breach of contract and malpractice.The plaintiff's mother had advanced fees to Channels on her son's behalf, and it was these funds Channels was ordered to repay.He did not respond to the lawsuit. He then filed bankruptcy when he learned the plaintiff was seeking damages in excess of a half million dollars.He made no restitution payments because he believed the bankruptcy trustee would view any payment as preferential treatment of a debtor.The bankruptcy petition was dismissed for failure to file schedules and was later refiled. In the interim, however, the plaintiff in the malpractice action obtained a default judgment of $15,000 against Channels.The bankruptcy court issued an order of discharge.Channels has paid $3,000 to his former client and reached an agreement with her son to pay $600 a month towards the amount due, which they calculated at $15,517.By not making the restitution ordered in the 1996 discipline, Channels violated the terms of his probation.The earlier discipline involved misconduct in four client matters, including failure to communicate, competently perform legal services and return client files. Channels also was privately reproved in 1992 for failure to return client files and unearned fees, and for performing work on a case after he was dismissed from employment.July 20, 1996 WALTER DAVID CHANNELS [#107719], 49, of Santa Ana was suspended for four years, stayed, and placed on probation for four years on the condition that he actually be suspended for 45 days, effective July 20, 1996. He was ordered to make restitution and pass the MPRE. In four different client matters, Channels' misconduct included failure to communicate, competently perform services and return client files.In one instance, Channels was hired by a woman in 1991 to represent her son in a criminal appeal. Relatives advanced to Channels $9,500 in attorney's fees. Channels seldom responded to numerous inquiries about the status of the appeal.He failed to appear at a sentencing hearing on the client's behalf and was later sanctioned by the court for failing to timely file an opening brief. In June 1993, he was again sanctioned for his failure to prosecute the appeal and the court appointed another attorney for his client.He did not refund the advanced fees.In aggravation, Channels has a prior record of discipline. He was privately reproved in 1992 for two matters involving failure to return client files promptly, failure to return unearned fees and performing work on a case after he was dismissed from employment.In mitigation, Channels took steps to atone for his misconduct in one matter by belatedly completing work on the case. He also suffered from a deep depression and went into total seclusion for four months. |