Oxnard, CA 93033
27 May 2011 | Disbarred (12 years, 11 months ago) Disbarment 06-O-10493 |
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25 February 2011 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (13 years, 2 months ago) Suspended/Child & Fam Supp noncompliance |
13 October 2010 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (13 years, 7 months ago) Suspended/Child & Fam Supp noncompliance |
28 May 2010 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (13 years, 11 months ago) Suspended/Child & Fam Supp noncompliance |
11 January 2010 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (14 years, 4 months ago) Ordered inactive 06-O-10493 |
23 July 2008 | Active (15 years, 9 months ago) |
1 July 2008 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (15 years, 10 months ago) Suspended, failed to pay fees |
18 December 2007 | Active (16 years, 4 months ago) |
16 August 2007 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (16 years, 8 months ago) Suspended/Child & Fam Supp noncompliance |
22 June 2007 | Active (16 years, 10 months ago) |
18 September 2006 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (17 years, 7 months ago) Suspended, failed to pay fees |
18 September 2006 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (17 years, 7 months ago) Admin Inactive/MCLE noncompliance |
31 August 2005 | Active (18 years, 8 months ago) |
29 July 2005 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (18 years, 9 months ago) Suspended/Child & Fam Supp noncompliance |
30 December 2001 | Active (22 years, 4 months ago) |
30 November 2001 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (22 years, 5 months ago) Discipline w/actual suspension 97-O-17000 |
27 February 1998 | Active (26 years, 2 months ago) |
21 July 1997 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (26 years, 9 months ago) Suspended/Child & Fam Supp noncompliance |
28 July 1987 | Admitted to the State Bar of California (36 years, 9 months ago) |
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.â€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. |