Los Angeles, CA 90018
2 November 2000 | Resigned (24 years, 7 months ago) Resignation with charges pending 00-Q-13678 |
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15 September 2000 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (24 years, 9 months ago) Vol.inactive(tender of resign.w/charges) 00-Q-13678 |
18 February 2000 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (25 years, 4 months ago) Discipline w/actual suspension 99-O-12349 |
19 April 1998 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (27 years, 2 months ago) Discipline w/actual suspension 95-O-14796 |
9 December 1996 | Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 95-O-14796 (28 years, 6 months ago) |
8 October 1986 | Admitted to the State Bar of California (38 years, 8 months ago) |
February 18, 2000 KEITH GERARD LIGGINS [#124055], 43, of Los Angeles was suspended for three years, stayed, placed on three years of probation with an actual suspension of one year and until he makes restitution, and was ordered to take the MPRE and comply with rule 955. If the actual suspension exceeds two years, he must prove his rehabilitation. The order took effect Feb. 18, 2000. Liggins stipulated that he failed to comply with probation conditions attached to a 1997 discipline. Among other things, he failed to submit to the State Bar’s probation office proof that he made restitution, attended ethics school, completed three hours of MCLE instruction in law office management, joined the bar’s law practice management section or returned client files.The original misconduct included seven counts of failing to perform legal services competently, five counts of failing to return client papers, two counts of failing to refund unearned fees, nine counts of failing to respond to client inquiries and three counts of violating a court order.April 19, 1998 KEITH G. LIGGINS [#124055], 41, of Los Angeles was suspended for two years, stayed, and placed on probation for three years with a 90-day actual suspension and until he proves rehabilitation and makes restitution. He also was ordered to take the MPRE. The order took effect April 19, 1998. Liggins stipulated to misconduct in 12 consolidated cases, most involving failure to perform legal services competently, communicate with clients, respond to clients' status requests, refund unearned fees, return files and pay sanctions. Four cases were dismissed due to his failure to perform services competently. Typical of Liggins' misconduct was the case of a doctor who hired him to represent her in a lawsuit for defective real property she had purchased. The doctor paid Liggins $2,000 in advance fees and agreed to pay him a contingency fee as well. After filing suit against five defendants, Liggins did little substantive work. He did not respond to discovery requests despite time extensions, failed to timely oppose motions by the defendants, did not appear at hearings, and was sanctioned by the court three times. The case was dismissed and a motion to set aside the dismissal was denied. Liggins never advised the client that the court had imposed sanctions three times or that the case was dismissed. When she fired Liggins and demanded the return of her files and a refund of her fees, he never responded. In mitigation, Liggins took on too many cases, many of which were contingency cases or were underfinanced. As a result, he encountered financial problems and had to reduce his staff, which led to communications and calendaring problems. He has narrowed his practice, takes fewer cases and has implemented office procedures to avoid his earlier problems. He agreed to make restitution to parties in seven different matters. |