Michael L Challgren is an active member of the California Bar and was admitted 7th December 1988. Michael graduated from Loyola Law School.

Lawyer Information

NameMichael L Challgren
First Admitted7 December 1988 (36 years, 6 months ago)
StatusActive
Bar Number137072

Contact

Current Email[email protected]
Previous Email[email protected]
Phone Number818-577-3554

Schools

Law SchoolLoyola Law School (Los Angeles CA)
Undergraduate SchoolUniversity of California San Diego (La Jolla CA)

Address

Current Address4241 Canoga Ave.
Woodland Hills, CA 91364
Map
Previous AddressThe Challgren Law Firm
P.O. Box 8282
Calabasas, CA 91372
Previous AddressThe Challgren Law Firm, PO Box 8282
Calabasas, CA 91372-8282

History

14 January 2013Active (12 years, 5 months ago)
2 January 2013Not eligible to practice law in CA (12 years, 5 months ago)
Discipline w/actual suspension 09-C-13658
1 September 2011Active (13 years, 9 months ago)
1 March 2011Not eligible to practice law in CA (14 years, 3 months ago)
Ordered inactive 09-C-13658
22 February 2010Active (15 years, 3 months ago)
28 January 2010Conviction record transmitted to State Bar Court 09-C-13659 (15 years, 4 months ago)
9 December 2009Conviction record transmitted to State Bar Court 09-C-13658 (15 years, 6 months ago)
1 July 2009Not eligible to practice law in CA (15 years, 11 months ago)
Suspended, failed to pay fees
24 October 2008Active (16 years, 8 months ago)
26 July 2008Not eligible to practice law in CA (16 years, 11 months ago)
Discipline w/actual suspension 06-O-14155
20 December 2007Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 07-O-14613 (17 years, 6 months ago)
12 December 2007Active (17 years, 6 months ago)
18 October 2007Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 06-O-14155 (17 years, 8 months ago)
18 September 2007Not eligible to practice law in CA (17 years, 9 months ago)
Suspended, failed to pass Prof.Resp.Exam 04-O-14361
16 August 2007Not eligible to practice law in CA (17 years, 10 months ago)
Suspended, failed to pay fees
13 July 2006Discipline, probation; no actual susp. 04-O-14361 (18 years, 11 months ago)
7 December 1988Admitted to the State Bar of California (36 years, 6 months ago)

Discipline Summaries

January 2, 2013

MICHAEL L. CHALLGREN [#137072], 53, of Woodland Hills was suspended for two years, stayed, and placed on two years of probation with a six-month actual suspension. He received credit for six months of inactive enrollment in 2011. The order took effect Jan. 2, 2013.

Challgren successfully completed the State Bar’s Alternative Discipline Program for lawyers with mental health or substance abuse issues. He pleaded guilty in 2008 to driving under the influence and in 2009 to driving while his license was suspended because of his DUI. He was accepted into the ADP after demonstrating a connection between his misconduct and substance abuse.

He has a record of three prior disciplines: a private reproval in 2001 for failing to deposit client funds in trust, commingling and reckless driving; a stayed suspension and probation in 2006 for failing to competently perform legal services, keep a client informed of significant developments or respond to reasonable status inquiries; and a 2008 suspension for bouncing checks and not cooperating with the bar’s investigation.

The successful completion of the alternative discipline program qualifies as mitigation, and Challgren cooperated with the bar’s investigation.

July 26, 2008

MICHAEL L. CHALLGREN [#137072], 49, of Hermosa Beach was suspended for one year, stayed, placed on three years of probation with a 90-day actual suspension and was ordered to comply with rule 9.20 of the California Rules of Court. The order took effect July 26, 2008.

Challgren stipulated to two counts of misconduct: he issued four checks against insufficient funds in his client trust account and he did not cooperate with the State Bar’s investigation of his actions.

He has been disciplined twice. In 2006 he was put on probation for three years for failing to perform legal services competently, keep clients informed about developments in their case or respond to clients’ reasonable status inquiries. He also was privately reproved in 2001.

In mitigation, Challgren was under severe financial stress after losing three trials in 2004 for which he had fronted all expenses and ultimately had to close his practice, and he had serious family problems, including his father’s cancer.

July 13, 2006

MICHAEL L. CHALLGREN [#137072], 46, of Hermosa Beach was suspended for six months, stayed, placed on three years of probation and was ordered to take the MPRE within one year. The order took effect July 13, 2006.

Challgren stipulated to three counts of misconduct in his handling of a civil lawsuit filed against his clients. He was hired to try to negotiate a settlement of a secured debt of $10,000 owed by a married couple; they understood that if no settlement were reached, they would be responsible for the full amount plus interest and attorney fees.

Challgren did not tell the clients their case was referred to arbitration, nor did he tell them of the hearing date so they did not appear. The arbitrator ruled against them and awarded $12,750 to the plaintiff. Challgren did not notify the clients.

He filed a request for a trial, but did not tell the clients that a date was set. Again they did not appear and a judgment of $13,211 was entered against them.

When the clients learned about the judgment, they tried to contact Challgren several times, but never succeeded. A new lawyer obtained the court file, contacted Challgren and said the clients only wanted him to try to have the judgment set aside. He did not do so.

Only after the sheriff went to the client's business to levy the funds in his cash register did Challgren move successfully to set aside the judgment and the case then settled for $10,500.

Challgren stipulated that he failed to perform legal services competently, keep clients informed about developments in their case or respond to clients' reasonable status inquiries.

Challgren was privately reproved in 2001.