Jorge Eduardo P. PortugalLeon was admitted to the California Bar 3rd December 1984, but has since been disbarred. Jorge graduated from U of San Francisco SOL.
Lawyer Information
| Name | Jorge Eduardo P. PortugalLeon |
|---|---|
| First Admitted | 3 December 1984 (40 years, 6 months ago) |
| Status | Disbarred |
| Bar Number | 117055 |
Contact
| Phone Number | 510-287-8223 |
|---|---|
| Fax Number | 415-587-8856 |
Schools
| Law School | U of San Francisco SOL (San Francisco CA) |
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| Undergraduate School | California St University Hayward (Hayward CA) |
Address
| Current Address | Jorge Portugal L, 347 Ralston St San Francisco, CA 94132 |
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| Map |
History
| 17 October 2009 | Disbarred (15 years, 8 months ago) Disbarment 08-N-13141 |
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| 9 April 2009 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (16 years, 2 months ago) Ordered inactive 08-N-13141 |
| 29 December 2008 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (16 years, 5 months ago) Ordered inactive 08-O-13788 |
| 15 May 2008 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (17 years, 1 month ago) Discipline w/actual suspension 02-O-12537 |
| 1 January 2007 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (18 years, 5 months ago) Ordered inactive 02-O-12537 |
| 24 December 2002 | Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 02-O-14286 (22 years, 6 months ago) |
| 3 December 1984 | Admitted to the State Bar of California (40 years, 6 months ago) |
Discipline Summaries
October 17, 2009 JORGE EDUARDO PORTUGAL LEON [#117055], 66, of San Francisco was disbarred Oct. 17, 2009, and was ordered to comply with rule 9.20. Portugal Leon failed to comply with an earlier rule 9.20 requirement that was part of a 2008 disciplinary order. He submitted a defective compliance declaration to the State Bar but never submitted a corrected version. Failure to comply with the rule is grounds for disbarment.He also did not submit two quarterly probation reports or evidence of mental health treatment.In the underlying matter, the State Bar Court found that Portugal Leon committed misconduct in 13 client matters, including failure to perform legal services competently, communicate with clients or refund unearned fees.He did not participate in the disbarment proceedings and his default was entered.May 15, 2008 JORGE EDUARDO PORTUGAL LEON [#117055], 64, of San Francisco was suspended for two years, stayed, placed on three years of probation with an actual two-year suspension and was ordered to make restitution, prove his rehabilitation, take the MPRE and comply with rule 9.20. He will receive credit for a period of actual suspension that began Sept. 4, 2007. The order was effective May 15, 2008. Leon stipulated to 21 counts of misconduct in 13 matters, including failure to perform legal services competently, communicate with clients or return unearned fees. Although he was accepted into the State Bar’s Alternative Discipline Pro-gram for lawyers with mental health or substance abuse problems, he was terminated for not complying with its requirements as well as allegations of additional misconduct.A complaining witness testified that she hired Leon to represent her in an immigration matter and paid him $4,000, but he failed to do the necessary work. Her complaint was at least the fifth time Leon did not comply with the ADP.Leon had stipulated to misconduct in 2004, but the imposition of discipline was postponed when he enrolled in the alternative program.In one matter, a client whose petition for asylum was denied paid Leon $2,000 to seek a review. However, Leon filed the petition late, it was denied and the client was ordered deported. His phone calls to Leon were ignored.When another immigrant, who had a criminal conviction in his background, sought immigration help, Leon’s office manager accepted the case and payment of a $2,000 fee. However, the office manager did not inform Leon about the criminal conviction. When he filed the petition for the client, it was denied because of the conviction.Leon did not return the client’s phone calls.In a third matter, the office manager again did not tell Leon the client had a criminal conviction. Leon accompanied the client to a meeting with the immigration department, but when he learned about the conviction he told the client he was withdrawing. He never returned her phone calls. In mitigation, Leon paid some restitution and he terminated his entire staff and relocated his office with a single employee. He had no record of prior discipline and had established a connection between his misconduct and depression. However, his participation in the ADP was not considered mitigation because he was terminated from the program. He was ordered to make restitution totaling $18,000 to eight clients. |