Lazaro Jesus Machado was admitted to the California Bar 14th June 1988, but is now resigned. Lazaro graduated from Western State University.
Lawyer Information
| Name | Lazaro Jesus Machado |
|---|---|
| First Admitted | 14 June 1988 (35 years, 10 months ago) |
| Status | Resigned |
| Bar Number | 134209 |
Contact
| Current Email | [email protected] |
|---|---|
| Phone Number | 714-349-4560 |
| Fax Number | 714-316-1355 |
Schools
| Law School | Western State University (CA) |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate School | Loma Linda University (CA) |
Address
| Current Address | PO Box 6997 Santa Ana, CA 92706-0997 |
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| Map | |
| Previous Address | 2675 Olive St Huntington Park, CA 90255 |
History
| 10 July 2005 | Resigned (18 years, 9 months ago) Resignation with charges pending 05-Q-00438 |
|---|---|
| 3 February 2005 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (19 years, 3 months ago) Vol.inactive(tender of resign.w/charges) 05-Q-00438 |
| 20 November 2004 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (19 years, 5 months ago) Discipline w/actual suspension 02-O-12291 |
| 7 November 2003 | Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 200-O-12291 (20 years, 5 months ago) |
| 11 March 2000 | Active (24 years, 1 month ago) |
| 27 September 1999 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (24 years, 7 months ago) Suspended, failed to pay fees |
| 11 June 1999 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (24 years, 10 months ago) Discipline w/actual suspension 97-O-15131 |
| 10 September 1998 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (25 years, 7 months ago) Discipline w/actual suspension 96-O-07285 |
| 14 April 1998 | Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 97-O-15131 (26 years ago) |
| 20 March 1998 | Active (26 years, 1 month ago) |
| 17 December 1997 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (26 years, 4 months ago) Discipline w/actual suspension 94-O-13745 |
| 28 January 1997 | Active (27 years, 3 months ago) |
| 4 February 1996 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (28 years, 3 months ago) Discipline w/actual suspension 93-O-13423 |
| 3 January 1996 | Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 94-O-13745 (28 years, 4 months ago) |
| 25 May 1995 | Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 94-O-12305 (28 years, 11 months ago) |
| 30 January 1995 | Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 93-O-18694 (29 years, 3 months ago) |
| 21 October 1994 | Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 93-O-17813 (29 years, 6 months ago) |
| 18 August 1994 | Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 93-O-13423 (29 years, 8 months ago) |
| 14 June 1988 | Admitted to the State Bar of California (35 years, 10 months ago) |
Discipline Summaries
November 20, 2004 LAZARO J. MACHADO [#134209], 48, of Santa Ana was suspended for five years, stayed, placed on five years of probation with an actual 30-month suspension and was ordered to prove his rehabilitation, take the MPRE and comply with rule 955. The order took effect Nov. 20, 2004. Machado stipulated that he misappropriated settlement money from three clients, committing acts of moral turpitude.He settled a personal injury claim for $5,500, and although he disbursed one-third to the client and one-third to himself, he did not send the full amount to the client’s doctor, instead taking some for himself. He wrote a check for $733.33 to the client, forged the client’s signature and deposited the money in his general account.Machado settled a second personal injury case, deposited a settlement check for $7,083 in his trust account, and although he took his fee and gave the client his portion of the settlement, he did not pay the doctor. Instead, he wrote a check for $693.40 to the client, forged the client’s signature and deposited the money in his general account. He did the same thing to a third client, this time keeping $800 that was owed the doctor.He misappropriated a total of $2,226.73.Machado has been disciplined four times previously.In 1999, he was suspended for failing to keep his client informed about developments in her personal injury case, respond to her inquiries, provide an accounting of the funds received or cooperate with the bar’s investigation. He also did not comply with probation conditions attached to a 1996 suspension, imposed for six counts of failure to perform competently, seven counts of failure to communicate with clients and one count of improperly withdrawing from a case.In 1997, he was suspended and placed on probation for failing to maintain client funds in his client trust account. He was disciplined again in 1998 for practicing law while suspended and failing to perform competently and communicate with a client.In mitigation, Machado cooperated with the bar’s investigation and he demonstrated remorse for his misconduct.June 11, 1999 LAZARO MACHADO [#134209], 42, of Garden Grove was suspended for five years, stayed, placed on five years of probation with an actual nine-month suspension, and was ordered to comply with rule 955. Should the suspension exceed two years, he must prove his rehabilitation. The order took effect June 11, 1999. Machado represented a client in a personal injury matter which was settled in a court-ordered mediation. Machado's client was to receive $60,000 in monthly payments over a four-year period.Machado notified the court that the case had settled, but he then failed to appear at two hearings regarding the status of his client's complaint. The complaint was then dismissed.Machado received several payments from the defendant and paid his client a lump sum after several months went by. He never told his client the source of the funds or provided an accounting. Although he told the client he would provide her additional settlement funds as they came in, he never sent her any more money because the defendant had stopped paying. Machado then was suspended from practice, but did not notify his client of the suspension for five months. He did not advise his client that he was not receiving settlement funds or suggest that she obtain another attorney to enforce the settlement.He stipulated that he failed to keep his client informed about developments in her case, respond to her inquiries, provide an accounting of the funds received or cooperate with the bar's investigation.Machado also stipulated that he did not comply with the conditions attached to a 1996 disciplinary order.Machado has a record of three previous disciplines.The 1996 case resulted from six counts of failure to perform competently, seven counts of failure to communicate with clients and one count of improperly withdrawing from a case.In 1997, he was suspended and placed on probation for failing to maintain client funds in his client trust account.He was disciplined again in 1998 for practicing law while suspended and failing perform competently and communicate with a client.In mitigation, he was hired to handle the lawsuit in the most recent matter and not to enforce the settlement. In addition, his failure to cooperate with the bar's investigation was due, in part, to his attorney's medical problems and unavailability.September 10, 1998 LAZARO J. MACHADO [#134209], 42, of Garden Grove was suspended for three years, stayed, and placed on probation for three years with a nine-month actual suspension and until he proves his rehabilitation. He was ordered to comply with rule 955. The order took effect Sept. 10, 1998. Machado stipulated to three counts of misconduct: failure to act competently and communicate with a client, and practicing law while suspended.Machado filed a civil complaint against his client's former business partner, but the case was dismissed when Machado failed to make any appearances or comply with court rules. In response to a motion Machado filed, the case was later reinstated and he was ordered to pay a $100 sanction. The court ordered the case transferred to municipal court, but despite two orders to pay transfer fees, the fees never were paid and the case was dismissed again.Machado did not return his client's phone calls or notify him the case was dismissed. He also did not respond to two certified letters from the client.Machado was suspended from practice for nine months in 1996, but did not notify his client of the suspension. By continuing to represent the client and giving him legal advice during the course of the suspension, Machado engaged in the unauthorized practice of law.Machado has been disciplined twice previously.December 17, 1997 LAZARO J. MACHADO [#134209], 41, of Garden Grove was suspended for one year, stayed, placed on three years of probation with an actual 90-day suspension and until he makes restitution, and was ordered to comply with rule 955. The order took effect Dec. 17, 1997. While employed to handle a personal injury case, Machado failed to promptly notify his client of his receipt of settlement funds, properly maintain his client trust account, pay out settlement funds promptly, or properly supervise his employees. His problems arose after his office manager, described in the stipulation as “a renegade office manger,†never informed him about the settlement and embezzled the settlement check. When Machado’s clients complained to the office manager about Machado, he blamed Machado and encouraged the clients to complain to the State Bar. The office manager destroyed files, changed phone numbers and stole money. In a second matter, Machado stipulated that he did not pay settlement funds to two personal injury clients because of his failure to adequately communicate with them. In that case, the Spanish-speaking clients signed a retainer agreement which clearly spelled out the disbursement of settlement funds. But they refused to accept the settlement Machado negotiated, believing they were entitled to more money. Even after Machado and the clients’ doctors agreed to reduce their fees, the clients refused to accept the settlement until they received more money. Machado also was suspended earlier for misconduct that resulted from his poor office management. In mitigation, Machado’s misconduct was the result of poor supervision of office employees. When he became aware of his office manager’s behavior, he closed the law office where the man worked. His trust account violations were unintentional and could be attributed in great part to poor office management. Machado was candid and cooperative with the bar’s investigation and voluntarily refrained from practice for a period of time, even though there was no requirement that he do so.February 4, 1996 LAZARO J. MACHADO [#134209], 39, of Garden Grove was suspended for three years, stayed, and placed on probation for three years, effective Feb. 4, 1996, on the condition that he actually be suspended for nine months and until he makes restitution. If the period of actual suspension equals or exceeds two years, he will remain suspended until he has shown proof of his rehabilitation and fitness to practice law. He also was ordered to pass the CPRE. Machado's conduct involved multiple acts of wrongdoing and affected eight different clients. In one instance, Machado took over another attorney's practice and filed a complaint on behalf of a client in a personal injury matter. However, he neglected to prosecute the case and communicate with his client. He failed to make a scheduled court appearance and the case was dismissed by the court. The client was never informed of the dismissal and was told by the office administrator that another attorney had taken over the case at Machado's request. He failed to inform the client of the change and did not execute a substitution of attorney. In aggravation, his misconduct significantly harmed one of his clients and affected eight other clients. In mitigation, Machado was admitted to the bar in 1988 and opened a law office in Garden Grove in 1989, followed by a second office in Bell in 1990. In 1992, when the caseloads of two offices became burdensome, he arranged for another attorney to handle the Bell office. However, he failed to notify some of his clients of the attorney substitution and the new attorney failed to follow through on some substitution matters. In 1993, when the other attorney left the Bell office, Machado attempted to straighten out his files and contact clients to rectify the confusion. No harm resulted to clients in three cases and in two of those, he successfully completed legal work, despite his failure to communicate. Machado acted in good faith, cooperated fully with the bar's investigation and presented a number of testaments to his good character from members of the general and legal community. |