Sacramento, CA 95814
15 November 2003 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (21 years, 5 months ago) Discipline w/actual suspension 01-N-00833 |
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31 July 2001 | Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 01-N-00833 (23 years, 9 months ago) |
13 August 2000 | Discipline w/actual suspension 00-PM-12157 (24 years, 8 months ago) |
13 August 2000 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (24 years, 8 months ago) Ordered inactive 00-PM-12157 |
17 December 1997 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (27 years, 4 months ago) Discipline w/actual suspension 95-O-13374 |
2 October 1996 | Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 95-O-13374 (28 years, 7 months ago) |
12 August 1996 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (28 years, 8 months ago) Suspended, failed to pay fees |
1 January 1995 | Inactive (30 years, 4 months ago) |
11 December 1987 | Admitted to the State Bar of California (37 years, 5 months ago) |
November 15, 2003 MELANIE LUCILLE MORGAN [#131116], 51, of Sacramento was suspended for four years, stayed, placed on five years of probation with an actual 18-month suspension and until she proves her rehabilitation, and was ordered to comply with rule 955. The order took effect Nov. 15, 2003. Morgan stipulated that she did not comply with rule 955, as required by a 2000 disciplinary order. She did not submit to the Supreme Court an affidavit attesting that she notified her clients, opposing counsel and other interested parties of her suspension from practice.Morgan suffers from chronic pain and is the primary caretaker for her adult son who was severely injured in an accident. She developed a dependency on pain pills and alcohol and was suffering from that addiction when her 955 affidavit was due. She underwent rehab and continues to participate in the program, and she joined Alcoholics Anonymous.The underlying discipline was imposed as a probation violation and stemmed from a 1997 discipline issued for failing to return client files, deposit client funds in a trust account, promptly pay client funds and communicate with a client.Morgan cooperated with the bar's investigation.November 22, 2000 The probation of MELANIE LUCILLE MORGAN [#131116], 48, of Sacramento was revoked, the previously ordered stay of suspension was lifted, and she was actually suspended for three years, with credit for a one-year suspension previously served and for the period of involuntary inactive enrollment which began Aug. 12, 2000. She was ordered to comply with rule 955. The order took effect Nov. 22, 2000. Morgan was disciplined in 1997, but did not meet the conditions of her probation: she did not file quarterly probation reports, submit certified public accountant certificates and reports regarding her client trust account, resolve a fee dispute with a client, or attend ethics school or trust accounting school.She stipulated to failing to communicate with clients, misappropriating client funds and not properly maintaining her trust account in the earlier discipline. The wrongdoing was attributed to her serious illness and the crippling of her high school age son, who was shot during an armed robbery attempt against him. Morgan closed her law practice in 1995, but did not inform her clients.December 17, 1997 MELANIE L. MORGAN [#131116], 45, of Los Angeles was suspended for three years, stayed, placed on three years of probation with an actual one-year suspension, and was ordered to take the MPRE and comply with rule 955. The order took effect Dec. 17, 1997. Morgan stipulated to misconduct via her plea of no contest in two cases, both involving failure to communicate with her clients. The wrongdoing was attributed to Morgan’s serious illness and the crippling of her high school age son, who was shot during an armed robbery attempt against him. Stretched to the breaking point, she closed her law practice in 1995 but did not inform her clients. In one case, Morgan did not return a client’s telephone calls. In the second matter, an unlawful detainer action, she failed to deposit checks in her trust account, one check bounced, and although she made arrangements for a new attorney to take over the case, she delayed in turning over the case file and signing a substitution of attorney form. Morgan stipulated that she did not properly maintain trust funds in her trust account and misappropriated client funds. She practiced law for 10 years without any record of discipline. |