El Cajon, CA 92019
15 August 2012 | Disbarred (12 years, 8 months ago) Disbarment 11-N-11117 |
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13 February 2012 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (13 years, 2 months ago) Ordered inactive 11-N-11117 |
24 June 2011 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (13 years, 10 months ago) Ordered inactive 11-N-11117 |
28 March 2011 | Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 11-N-11117 (14 years, 1 month ago) |
9 December 2010 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (14 years, 4 months ago) Discipline w/actual suspension 09-O-10409 |
1 February 2004 | Active (21 years, 3 months ago) |
1 January 2001 | Inactive (24 years, 4 months ago) |
13 June 1984 | Admitted to the State Bar of California (40 years, 11 months ago) |
August 15, 2012 NOLAN CHARLES STRINGFIELD, 69, of El Cajon was disbarred Aug. 15, 2012, and was ordered to comply with rule 9.20 of the California Rules of Court. Stringfield failed to comply with a rule 9.20 requirement that was part of a 2010 disciplinary order. In the underlying discipline, he failed to perform legal services competently, communicate with his client, notify his client of the receipt of an $18,000 settlement check, pay his client’s portion of the settlement promptly and return $5,000 in unearned fees.Stringfield’s default was entered as a result of his failure to respond to disciplinary charges. Under State Bar Rules of Procedure, any attorney who does not move to have his default vacated or set aside within 180 days is subject to disbarment.December 9, 2010 NOLAN CHARLES STRINGFIELD [#113651], 67, of El Cajon was suspended for two years, stayed, placed on three years of probation and until he makes restitution, and he was ordered to take the MPRE and comply with rule 9.20 of the California Rules of Court. If the actual suspension exceeds two years, he must prove his rehabilitation. The order took effect Dec. 9, 2010. Stringfield stipulated that he committed seven acts of misconduct while handling a personal injury case on a contingency fee basis. He didn’t properly supervise his staff and without his client’s knowledge or consent, one of his employees settled the matter for $18,000, forged the client’s signature on the settlement agreement and filed for dismissal.The court dismissed the case, but Stringfield didn’t tell the client, nor did he inform him he’d received and cashed the settlement check. He took $5,000.01 as his fee, but admitted the fee was unearned. He didn’t give the client his share of the funds for five months.Stringfield also deposited non-client funds into his client trust account and used it to pay personal expenses.He stipulated that he failed to perform legal services competently, inform a client of significant developments in his case, communicate with his client, notify the client of his receipt of funds, promptly pay out those funds or refund unearned fees and he commingled funds in his trust account.In mitigation, Stringfield has no prior discipline record, he cooperated with the bar’s investigation and he demonstrated remorse. |