David Mark Cordrey was admitted to the California Bar 7th December 1988, but has since been disbarred. David graduated from Loyola Law School.

Lawyer Information

NameDavid Mark Cordrey
First Admitted7 December 1988 (36 years, 6 months ago)
StatusDisbarred
Bar Number136671

Schools

Law SchoolLoyola Law School (Los Angeles CA)
Undergraduate SchoolUniversity of California Irvine (Irvine CA)

Address

Current Address8950 W Olympic Blvd Ste 174
Beverly Hills, CA 90211
Map

History

17 December 2009Disbarred (15 years, 6 months ago)
Disbarment 08-O-14290
16 July 2009Not eligible to practice law in CA (15 years, 11 months ago)
Discipline w/actual suspension 04-O-14136
14 June 2009Not eligible to practice law in CA (16 years ago)
Ordered inactive 08-O-14290
15 March 2009Not eligible to practice law in CA (16 years, 3 months ago)
Ordered inactive 08-O-14290
30 August 2008Not eligible to practice law in CA (16 years, 9 months ago)
Discipline w/actual suspension 01-O-03875
29 August 2008Not eligible to practice law in CA (16 years, 9 months ago)
Ordered inactive 04-O-14136
18 October 2004Conviction record transmitted to State Bar Court 04-C-14577 (20 years, 8 months ago)
6 January 2004Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 03-O-01702 (21 years, 5 months ago)
26 June 2003Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 02-O-10041 (21 years, 12 months ago)
10 January 2003Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 02-O-11391 (22 years, 5 months ago)
3 May 2002Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 01-O-03875 (23 years, 1 month ago)
7 December 1988Admitted to the State Bar of California (36 years, 6 months ago)

Discipline Summaries

December 17, 2009

DAVID MARK CORDREY [#136671], 46, of Beverly Hills was disbarred Dec. 17, 2009, and was ordered to comply with rule 9.20 of the California Rules of Court.

In a default proceeding that consolidated two matters, the State Bar Court found that Cordrey failed to comply with a 2008 disciplinary order. He did not submit to the court an affidavit stating that he notified his clients, opposing counsel and other interested parties of his suspension, as required by rule 9.20, and he failed to file a quarterly probation report or a criminal probation statement. Failure to comply with rule 9.20 is grounds for disbarment.

In the underlying matter, Cordrey committed misconduct in seven matters, involving six clients, including failing to perform legal services competently, return unearned fees, communicate or return a client’s file. He also engaged in the unauthorized practice of law, and he was convicted of driving under the influence.

He also was disciplined earlier in 2008 for maintaining an unjust action.

State Bar Court Judge Richard Platel recommended Cordrey’s disbarment in view of “the serious and unexplained nature of [his] misconduct, the lack of participation in these proceedings, the lack of any mitigating factors, the existence of a prior disciplinary record and respondent’s failure to comply with orders of the California Supreme Court.”

July 16, 2009

DAVID M. CORDREY [#136671], 45, of Beverly Hills was suspended for two years and until the State Bar Court grants a motion to terminate the suspension and until he proves his rehabilitation. He was ordered to comply with rule 9.20 and to take the MPRE. The order took effect July 16, 2009.

In a default proceeding, the bar court found that Cordrey committed two acts of misconduct in a probate matter. He represented a woman who had been disinherited by her mother. Another disinherited daughter had filed objections in the probate matter, but Cordrey’s client did not file anything until after the statute of limitations expired.

Her objections were identical to her sister’s, and she lacked standing to challenge the administration of the estate. Nonetheless, Cordrey continued to press his client’s objections.

The court sanctioned him $8,125 and issued a written order finding that his client’s objections were frivolous and that Cordrey acted with the intent to harass or cause needless litigation. He never paid the sanctions or reported them to the bar.

The bar court found that he maintained an unjust action and failed to report judicial sanctions.

Cordrey was disciplined in 2008 for misconduct in seven matters, including failing to perform legal services competently, refund unearned fees, communicate or return a client’s file and he practiced law while suspended and was convicted of driving under the influence. At the time, he had no prior discipline record and had extreme difficulties in his personal life.

August 30, 2008

DAVID M. CORDREY [#136671], 44, of Beverly Hills was suspended for three years, stayed, placed on four years of probation with an actual nine-month suspension and was ordered to make restitution, take the MPRE and comply with rule 9.20. If the actual suspension exceeds two years, he must prove his rehabilitation. The order took effect Aug. 30, 2008.

Cordrey was accepted into the State Bar’s alternative discipline program and the Lawyer Assistance Program in 2005, and stipulated to seven counts of misconduct in six client matters as well as a misdemeanor conviction of driving under the influence with a prior. He demonstrated a connection between the misconduct and his substance abuse and mental health issues. In 2007, he was terminated from both programs.

In one matter, although Cordrey was hired to file a lawsuit for breach of contract and fraud, he never filed the complaint. He did not return his client’s file or refund a $3,000 advance fee.

Another client hired Cordrey to file three lawsuits on his behalf in separate matters. Two of the cases were dismissed by the court and Cordrey never filed the third complaint. The client was unable to reach Cordrey for several months.

Another matter was erroneously dismissed due to the court’s clerical order, but Cordrey did not take any corrective action to set aside the dismissal. The client sued him for malpractice and Cordrey settled with her.

Although he filed a personal injury claim for a mother and daughter who were injured in an automobile accident, he did not serve the defendants, appear at a status conference or file any documents with the court asking for additional time or opposing dismissal. The case was dismissed.

The mother and two other relatives hired Cordrey to file two more suits as a result of two more accidents, but he did not do so. In both matters, the clients lost their rights to pursue their action.

The four clients sued Cordrey and won a judgment totaling more than $70,000. He has not satisfied the judgment.

In the final matter, he represented a client while suspended for failure to meet MCLE requirements. When that client fired him, he did not provide his files to the new lawyer.

Cordrey stipulated that he failed to perform legal services competently, refund unearned fees, communicate with clients or promptly release client files and he practiced law when he was not entitled to do so.

In mitigation, Cordrey has no prior discipline record, he demonstrated remorse and he had severe family problems at the time of the misconduct.