Joseph Edward Rowland was admitted to the California Bar 13th July 1990, but has since been disbarred.

Lawyer Information

NameJoseph Edward Rowland
First Admitted13 July 1990 (34 years, 10 months ago)
StatusDisbarred
Bar Number147636

Contact

Current Email[email protected]
Phone Number714-281-0567
Fax Number714-835-7921

School

Undergraduate SchoolSeton Hall University (So Orange NJ)

Address

Current AddressThe Law Office of Joseph Rowland, APLC, 106 W 4th St Ste 511
Santa Ana, CA 92701
Map

History

29 February 2012Disbarred (13 years, 2 months ago)
Disbarment 09-O-16749
30 September 2011Not eligible to practice law in CA (13 years, 7 months ago)
Ordered inactive 09-O-16749
1 July 2011Not eligible to practice law in CA (13 years, 10 months ago)
Suspended, failed to pay fees
16 June 2011Not eligible to practice law in CA (13 years, 10 months ago)
Ordered inactive 09-O-16749
17 December 2010Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 09-O-16749 (14 years, 4 months ago)
17 December 2010Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 10-N-04678 (14 years, 4 months ago)
26 August 2010Active (14 years, 8 months ago)
14 January 2010Not eligible to practice law in CA (15 years, 3 months ago)
Discipline w/actual suspension 06-O-10447
6 May 2009Not eligible to practice law in CA (15 years, 12 months ago)
Suspended, failed to pass Prof.Resp.Exam 04-O-13932
9 October 2008Active (16 years, 6 months ago)
1 October 2008Not eligible to practice law in CA (16 years, 7 months ago)
Suspended, failed to pass Prof.Resp.Exam 04-O-13932
16 August 2007Discipline, probation; no actual susp. 04-O-13932 (17 years, 8 months ago)
13 September 2006Active (18 years, 7 months ago)
31 July 2006Not eligible to practice law in CA (18 years, 9 months ago)
Ordered inactive 04-O-13932
28 March 2006Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 04-O-13932 (19 years, 1 month ago)
2 October 2002Active (22 years, 7 months ago)
4 September 2002Not eligible to practice law in CA (22 years, 8 months ago)
Suspended, failed to pay fees
13 July 1990Admitted to the State Bar of California (34 years, 10 months ago)

Discipline Summaries

February 29, 2012

JOSEPH EDWARD ROWLAND [#147636], 64, of Santa Ana was disbarred Feb. 29, 2012, and was ordered to make restitution and comply with rule 9.20 of the California Rules of Court.

In a default proceeding, the State Bar Court found that Rowland did not comply with a 2010 rule 9.20 requirement; he did not submit on time an affidavit declaring that he notified his clients, opposing counsel and other interested parties of his suspension from practice. The court found he also committed six counts of misconduct in two other matters.

The 2010 discipline was imposed after Rowland stipulated to 11 counts of misconduct in six matters, mostly for practicing in courts where he is not admitted.

In one of the new matters, Rowland drafted and signed a complaint that was to be filed in federal court in Arizona, but he never sought admission to the court and never filed the complaint. However, he told the client that he filed both the complaint and another motion. He didn’t respond to his client’s 36 emails or many phone calls, but made misrepresentations about the status of the case. He didn’t provide his client’s file to a new lawyer, who withdrew because he could not review the case.

Rowland substituted in to a federal criminal matter for which the client paid $22,000 in fees. The bar court found that he did not earn that amount and the client believes he did not perform work of value for her. He did not reply to a request for a refund or cooperate with the bar’s investigation.

Rowland also was suspended and placed on probation in 2007 after stipulating that he failed to perform legal services competently, refund unearned fees or cooperate with the bar’s investigation.

In recommending Rowland’s disbarment, Judge Richard Platel wrote that he “has demonstrated an unwillingness to comply with the professional obligations and rules of court imposed on California attorneys although he has been given opportunities to do so.”

January 14, 2010

JOSEPH EDWARD ROWLAND [#147636], 62, of Santa Ana was suspended for three years, stayed, placed on three years of probation with an actual six-month 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 Jan. 14, 2010.

Rowland stipulated to 11 counts of misconduct in six matters. Most of the misconduct involved his appearances before courts where he was not admitted, was prohibited from appearing by the court or was not entitled to practice because of State Bar discipline. Three times he was sanctioned by the court of appeal but did not report the sanction to the bar.

In one matter, he represented a client in federal district court in Illinois, where he was not licensed. The client paid him $27,000, and he made appearances and filed motions. He also twice filed appeals in the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeal, although his name was stricken from the roll of lawyers permitted to practice before the court.

Rowland also was not entitled to practice before the Ninth Circuit, although he filed an appeal there.

While enrolled as an inactive bar member in California, he represented a criminal defendant in Riverside County Superior Court. Despite receiving notice from the deputy district attorney that he wasn’t eligible to practice, Rowland filed a motion to set aside a default judgment entered against his client.

Rowland was suspended by 2007, but did not comply with probation conditions: he filed four probation reports late and did not provide proof that he passed the MPRE.

In mitigation, Rowland cooperated with the bar’s investigation, was caring for his dying mother for three years and he demonstrated good character.

August 16, 2007

JOSEPH EDWARD ROWLAND [#147636], 59, of Tustin was suspended for two years, stayed, placed on two years of probation and was ordered to prove his rehabilitation and take the MPRE within one year. The order took effect Aug. 16, 2007.

Rowland stipulated to three counts of misconduct in his handling of a house forfeiture matter for which the client paid an advance $5,000 fee. Although he filed an answer to the complaint, he did no further work. He did not send verification of his client’s income, as requested, and failed to respond to interrogatories or appear at a settlement conference. He also did not respond to his client’s many requests that he account for the fee.

When she hired a new lawyer, Rowland signed the substitution of attorney form and although he promised to return the client’s fee, he did not do so. She won a small claims judgment against him, but he did not refund the money for more than two years.

Rowland did not respond to a State Bar investigator’s questions.

He stipulated that he failed to perform legal services competently, refund unearned fees or cooperate with the bar’s investigation. In mitigation, Rowland had 12 years of practice without any discipline and he performed some services at the outset of the litigation for which he did not charge the client.