Agoura Hills, CA 91301-1583
24 November 2011 | Active (13 years, 6 months ago) |
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13 November 2009 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (15 years, 7 months ago) Discipline w/actual suspension 03-O-04890 |
31 August 2006 | Active (18 years, 9 months ago) |
31 July 2006 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (18 years, 10 months ago) Ordered inactive |
19 May 2006 | Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 04-O-11705 (19 years, 1 month ago) |
23 December 2005 | Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 03-O-04890 (19 years, 6 months ago) |
26 January 2002 | Private reproval, public disclosure 99-O-12544 (23 years, 4 months ago) |
12 September 2001 | Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 99-O-12544 (23 years, 9 months ago) |
12 September 1998 | Discipline, probation; no actual susp. 96-O-08462 (26 years, 9 months ago) |
15 January 1998 | Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 96-O-08462 (27 years, 5 months ago) |
12 December 1983 | Admitted to the State Bar of California (41 years, 6 months ago) |
November 13, 2009 RICHARD ALAN HOFMAN [#110692], 51, of Agoura Hills was suspended for five years, stayed, and was placed on five years of probation with a two-year actual suspension and until he makes restitution, proves his rehabilitation and takes the MPRE. He also was ordered to comply with rule 9.20. The order took effect Nov. 13, 2009. Although the State Bar sought Hofman’s disbarment, Judge Richard Honn instead recommended a lengthy suspension as a result of his misconduct in two matters.A client hired Hofman and paid him $4,000 for fees and costs to file a chapter 7 bankruptcy petition for her and her husband and to file a chapter 11 bankruptcy petition for their business. The client stressed the importance of getting creditors to stop hounding her for payment of bills, but Hofman never filed the chapter 11 petition and did not file bankruptcy for the couple for 14 months. He often cancelled appointments and because he didn’t file the petitions, creditors continually contacted his client.The client believed Hofman had filed for bankruptcy and he provided a fake case number that she provided to the social worker at the welfare office and to all the creditors that requested it.The case was dismissed because the clients did not file the required schedules, statements or plan on time. Hofman did not notify them of the dismissal or of a motion he filed to vacate the dismissal.Honn found that Hofman failed to perform legal services competently or inform his clients of significant developments in their case.Hofman was privately reproved in 2002 for failing to communicate with a client, perform legal services competently, causing the client to lose her home, return the client’s file or refund an unearned fee, and he improperly withdrew from representation. He also was given a stayed suspension and placed on probation in 1998 after stipulating to five counts of misconduct in three matters. |