Robert William Bates is an active member of the California Bar and was admitted 11th December 1986. Robert graduated from Pepperdine University SOL.

Lawyer Information

NameRobert William Bates
First Admitted11 December 1986 (37 years, 5 months ago)
StatusActive
Bar Number125291
Practice AreaAlternative Dispute Resolution

Contact

Current Email[email protected]
Previous Email[email protected]
Phone Number213-229-0100
Fax Number(626) 228-2459

Schools

Law SchoolPepperdine University SOL (Malibu CA)
Undergraduate SchoolUniversity of California at Los Angeles (CA)

Address

Current AddressRobinson Di Lando, 801 S Grand Ave Ste 500
Los Angeles, CA 90017-4633
Map
Previous AddressRobert W Bates
PO Box 6173
Discerning Mediation
Altadena, CA 91003
Previous AddressDiscerning Mediation, PO Box 101
Gardena, CA 90248-0101
Previous AddressDiscerning Mediation, 16208 S Menlo Ave
Gardena, CA 90247-4930
Previous Address16208 S Menlo Ave
Gardena, CA 90247-4930

History

2 January 2015Active (9 years, 4 months ago)
2 January 2014Not eligible to practice law in CA (10 years, 4 months ago)
Discipline w/actual suspension 11-O-17033
11 December 1986Admitted to the State Bar of California (37 years, 5 months ago)

Discipline Summaries

January 2, 2014

ROBERT WILLIAM BATES [#125291], 52, of Alta Dena was suspended for two years, stayed, placed on two years’ probation with an actual one-year suspension and ordered to take the MPRE and comply with rule 9.20 of the California Rules of Court. The order took effect Jan. 2, 2014.

Bates stipulated to misconduct in one client matter: misappropriation and failing to deposit client funds in his client trust account or promptly pay client funds. The misconduct stemmed from a medical malpractice case he handled in 2009. The client in the matter mailed Bates a check for $1,000 to pay for an independent medical evaluation, but Bates’ paralegal put the money into Bates’ general account and did not tell Bates it had been received.

The doctor was never hired to do the exam, and a couple of months later Bates asked the client for another $1,000 check to pay for a medical examination. The exam was completed for just $250 but Bates did not return the remaining money, misappropriating $658 of the client’s funds.

In September 2011, after confirming that the client’s first check had been deposited in his general account, Bates paid back that money. By December 2011, he had refunded all of the money he owed the client.

In mitigation, Bates had no prior record of discipline, entered into a pre-trial stipulation and was experiencing extreme emotional difficulties due to his wife’s deportation.