Robert Michael Ball was admitted to the California Bar 7th December 1988, but has since been disbarred. Robert graduated from USC Law School.
Lawyer Information
| Name | Robert Michael Ball |
|---|---|
| First Admitted | 7 December 1988 (36 years, 6 months ago) |
| Status | Disbarred |
| Bar Number | 138482 |
Contact
| Phone Number | 323-653-6263 |
|---|---|
| Fax Number | 323-653-2281 |
Schools
| Law School | USC Law School (Los Angeles CA) |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate School | Calif St University Dominguez Hills (Carson CA) |
Address
| Current Address | Law Ofc Robert M Ball, 8200 Wilshire Blvd #400 Beverly Hills, CA 90211 |
|---|---|
| Map |
History
| 18 November 2015 | Disbarred (9 years, 7 months ago) Disbarment 14-O-03862 |
|---|---|
| 19 July 2015 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (9 years, 11 months ago) Discipline w/actual suspension 13-O-17308 |
| 31 May 2015 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (10 years ago) Ordered inactive 14-O-03862 |
| 13 January 2015 | Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 14-O-03862 (10 years, 5 months ago) |
| 13 May 2014 | Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 13-O-17308 (11 years, 1 month ago) |
| 27 June 2011 | Active (13 years, 11 months ago) |
| 25 November 2010 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (14 years, 6 months ago) Discipline w/actual suspension 05-O-04060 |
| 5 April 2007 | Discipline, probation; no actual susp. 03-O-02545 (18 years, 2 months ago) |
| 7 April 2006 | Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 03-O-02545 (19 years, 2 months ago) |
| 7 December 1988 | Admitted to the State Bar of California (36 years, 6 months ago) |
Discipline Summaries
November 18, 2015 ROBERT MICHAEL BALL [#138482], 57, of Beverly Hills, was disbarred Nov. 18, 2015 and ordered to comply with rule 9.20 of the California Rules of Court and make restitution. The State Bar Court found Ball culpable of three counts of misconduct in a single client matter. Ball committed an act of moral turpitude by not telling a client that he had agreed to represent in a class action that he was about to be suspended, then continuing to correspond with her about her case. In addition, he entered into a business transaction with the client without laying out the terms in writing in a way the client could understand and advising her of her right to seek the advice of an independent attorney and getting her written consent to the terms of the transaction. He also did not cooperate with a State Bar investigation.He was ordered to pay $35,000 plus interest in restitution.Ball had three prior records of discipline. In 2007, he was suspended for misconduct that included failure to perform legal services with competence, failure to communicate with a client and failure to cooperate in a State Bar investigation. He was suspended again in 2010 for 22 violations in eight client matters, including acts of moral turpitude and failure to perform legal services with competence, refund unearned fees, communicate with a client, provide accountings or cooperate in a State Bar investigation. His third suspension was in 2015 for violations of his disciplinary probation.July 19, 2015 ROBERT MICHAEL BALL [#138482], 57, of Beverly Hills, was suspended from the practice of law for one year and ordered to take the MPRE and comply with rule 9.20 of the California Rules of Court. He was also placed on three years’ probation and faces a two-year suspension if he does not comply with the terms of his disciplinary probation. The order took effect July 19, 2015. The State Bar Court found Ball culpable of failing to comply with the terms of his disciplinary probation by not meeting deadlines to take and pass Ethics School and file a final quarterly report with probation, and that he make and present proof of having paid $875 in restitution to a former client.He had two prior records of discipline, a November 2010 suspension for 22 violations in eight client matters, including acts of moral turpitude and failure to perform legal services with competence, refund unearned fees, communicate, provide accountings or cooperate in a State Bar investigation. His first discipline was in 2007, when he was suspended for failing to perform legal services competently by not appearing at two status conferences.November 25, 2010 ROBERT MICHAEL BALL [#138482], 52, of Beverly Hills was suspended for two years, stayed, placed on two years of probation with a seven-month actual suspension and he was ordered to take the MPRE within one year and comply with rule 9.20 of the California Rules of Court. The order took effect Nov. 25, 2010. Ball stipulated to 22 counts of misconduct in seven client matters.In one matter, his client’s case was dismissed because Ball failed to pay the filing fee. The client learned the status of her case from the court and requested that Ball refund her $10,000 advance fee. Instead, he agreed to repay $9,500 if she agreed to release him from liability. He eventually repaid $9,750 and owes the client the remainder.He asked another client who fired him and sought a return of the $10,000 advance fee to release him from any liability in exchange for a refund. Another matter, filed without his client’s knowledge, was dismissed because Ball failed to file a proof of service. He didn’t file a lawsuit for another client during the 20 months Ball represented him.While representing a client in a sex harassment/wrongful termination claim, he asked the client to obtain a $7,500 loan that apparently was to be repaid out of Ball’s fees if the lawsuit succeeded. Without the client’s knowledge, Ball obtained a second loan of $12,500. Although Ball claims his fee was the only source from which the money was to be repaid, the agreement with the lender is ambiguous and unclear as to whether the loan was secured by a lien on the proceeds of the litigation or limited to Ball’s contingent fee. The nature of the agreement put the client at risk of litigation with the lender.Ball was sanctioned by the federal court in another matter and the government was awarded $1,200 in fees because of Ball’s actions. He didn’t report the sanction to the bar.Ball was disciplined in 2007 for misconduct in five cases involving failures to perform legal services competently, respond to clients’ requests for status updates or cooperate with the bar’s investigation.In migitation, Ball’s staff was reduced, he was going through an acrimonious divorce and custody battle and his fiancée had medical problems.April 5, 2007 ROBERT MICHAEL BALL [#138482], 49, of Beverly Hills was suspended for 60 days, stayed, placed on one year of probation and was ordered to take the MPRE within one year. The order took effect April 5, 2007. Ball stipulated to three acts of misconduct in two matters.In the first, he failed to appear at two status conferences, admitting that he failed to perform legal services competently.The second was a wrongful termination case he took over from an associate at his law firm. Over several months, he twice told the client he would consult with a specialist in civil service matters and would call her back. He never called the client back.He stipulated that he failed to respond to a client's reasonable status inquiries and did not cooperate with the bar's investigation.In mitigation, Ball has no record of discipline in 18 years of practice, has received many public service awards and said his cases have received wide press attention. |