Ricardo Lopez Mendoza was admitted to the California Bar 28th July 1987, but has since been disbarred. Ricardo graduated from University of West Los Angeles.

Lawyer Information

NameRicardo Lopez Mendoza
First Admitted28 July 1987 (36 years, 9 months ago)
StatusDisbarred
Bar Number129356

Contact

Phone Number626-318-9308

Schools

Law SchoolUniversity of West Los Angeles (Los Angeles CA)
Undergraduate SchoolCalifornia St University Fresno (Fresno CA)

Address

Current AddressLaw Ofc Ricardo Mendoza, 1320 S G St
Oxnard, CA 93033
Map

History

27 May 2011Disbarred (12 years, 11 months ago)
Disbarment 06-O-10493
25 February 2011Not eligible to practice law in CA (13 years, 2 months ago)
Suspended/Child & Fam Supp noncompliance
13 October 2010Not eligible to practice law in CA (13 years, 7 months ago)
Suspended/Child & Fam Supp noncompliance
28 May 2010Not eligible to practice law in CA (13 years, 11 months ago)
Suspended/Child & Fam Supp noncompliance
11 January 2010Not eligible to practice law in CA (14 years, 4 months ago)
Ordered inactive 06-O-10493
23 July 2008Active (15 years, 9 months ago)
1 July 2008Not eligible to practice law in CA (15 years, 10 months ago)
Suspended, failed to pay fees
18 December 2007Active (16 years, 4 months ago)
16 August 2007Not eligible to practice law in CA (16 years, 8 months ago)
Suspended/Child & Fam Supp noncompliance
22 June 2007Active (16 years, 10 months ago)
18 September 2006Not eligible to practice law in CA (17 years, 7 months ago)
Suspended, failed to pay fees
18 September 2006Not eligible to practice law in CA (17 years, 7 months ago)
Admin Inactive/MCLE noncompliance
31 August 2005Active (18 years, 8 months ago)
29 July 2005Not eligible to practice law in CA (18 years, 9 months ago)
Suspended/Child & Fam Supp noncompliance
30 December 2001Active (22 years, 4 months ago)
30 November 2001Not eligible to practice law in CA (22 years, 5 months ago)
Discipline w/actual suspension 97-O-17000
27 February 1998Active (26 years, 2 months ago)
21 July 1997Not eligible to practice law in CA (26 years, 9 months ago)
Suspended/Child & Fam Supp noncompliance
28 July 1987Admitted to the State Bar of California (36 years, 9 months ago)

Discipline Summaries

May 27, 2011

RICARDO LOPEZ MENDOZA [#129356], 54, of Oxnard was disbarred May 27, 2011, and was ordered to comply with rule 9.20 of the California Rules of Court.

The State Bar Court review department upheld a hearing judge’s recommendation that Mendoza be disbarred for misappropriating more than $16,000 from five clients. It rejected Mendoza’s assertion that the discipline is excessive and that he was not given enough mitigation by the hearing judge.

In total, the hearing judge found that Mendoza committed 19 counts of misconduct in six different cases involving 13 clients. A personal injury case was dismissed because he failed to respond to discovery requests and motions, and he did not attend five court hearings. For a year and a half, he did not respond to his clients’ numerous requests for information.

He settled another personal injury case, but misappropriated $6,174 in settlement funds and did not pay his clients’ medical liens. He misappropriated another $9,994.67 from a client by writing 86 checks to himself against his client trust account, leaving a balance of $5.33. He deposited three settlement checks in his trust account that were written to him and a previous lawyer. Mendoza offered $650 to settle the other lawyer’s lien, but no agreement was reached and he did not pay the other attorney. On review, Mendoza attached to his opening brief a copy of a letter and $650 check to the other lawyer eight months after trial before the hearing judge ended.

Mendoza filed a complaint in another personal injury case, but he did not complete an alternative dispute resolution form, respond to discovery requests, and appear at two hearings. The court dismissed the complaint and ordered Mendoza to pay sanctions of $250. He took no steps to set aside the dismissal, and did not pay the sanctions until three years later.

Mendoza was suspended and placed on probation in 2001 for the unauthorized practice of law.

In recommending his disbarment, the review panel noted that he misappropriated a significant amount of money and said the extent of his misconduct “is of paramount concern.” Writing for the three-judge panel, Judge JoAnn Remke said, "When we consider the totality of his misconduct starting with his prior record, we find that his offenses have become increasingly more serious with the passage of time.”

November 30, 2001

RICARDO LOPEZ MENDOZA [#129356], 45, of Los Angeles was suspended for one year, stayed, placed on two years of probation and was ordered to take the MPRE within one year. The order took effect Nov. 30, 2001.

Mendoza practiced law while suspended for being in arrears in support payments. He filed a court petition on behalf of a client.

In mitigation, he has no prior record of discipline, his client was not harmed and he cooperated with the bar’s investigation.