Raymond Kirk Kolter was admitted to the California Bar 6th June 1991, but is now resigned. Raymond graduated from Pepperdine University SOL.

Lawyer Information

NameRaymond Kirk Kolter
First Admitted6 June 1991 (32 years, 10 months ago)
StatusResigned
Bar Number152579

Contact

Phone Number310-430-3270
Fax Number310-442-6400

Schools

Law SchoolPepperdine University SOL (Malibu CA)
Undergraduate SchoolMidwestern St University (Wichita Falls TX)

Address

Current Address9909 Topanga Cyn Blvd #289
Chatsworth, CA 91311
Map

History

24 July 2004Resigned (19 years, 9 months ago)
Resignation with charges pending 04-Q-12183
25 May 2004Not eligible to practice law in CA (19 years, 11 months ago)
Vol.inactive(tender of resign.w/charges) 04-Q-12183
18 December 2003Not eligible to practice law in CA (20 years, 4 months ago)
Discipline w/actual suspension 01-O-01990
20 June 2003Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 01-O-04924 (20 years, 10 months ago)
15 March 2003Not eligible to practice law in CA (21 years, 1 month ago)
Ordered inactive 01-O-01990
23 February 2003Not eligible to practice law in CA (21 years, 2 months ago)
Discipline w/actual suspension 02-PM-11955
24 January 2003Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 00-O-01990 (21 years, 3 months ago)
18 August 2002Not eligible to practice law in CA (21 years, 8 months ago)
Ordered inactive 02-PM-11955
14 October 2001Not eligible to practice law in CA (22 years, 6 months ago)
Discipline w/actual suspension 00-O-10167
1 September 2001Not eligible to practice law in CA (22 years, 7 months ago)
Suspended, failed to pay fees
1 September 2001Not eligible to practice law in CA (22 years, 7 months ago)
Admin Inactive/MCLE noncompliance
21 September 2000Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 00-O-10167 (23 years, 7 months ago)
6 June 1991Admitted to the State Bar of California (32 years, 10 months ago)

Discipline Summaries

December 18, 2003

RAYMOND KIRK KOLTER [#152579], 41, of Chatsworth was suspended for two years, stayed, and actually suspended for one year and until he makes restitution and proves his rehabilitation. The suspension shall run concurrent to a period of actual suspension imposed in another discipline. The order took effect Dec.18, 2003.

In a default proceeding, the bar court found that Kolter failed to communicate with a client, perform legal services competently, return unearned fees or cooperate with the bar’s investigation, and he improperly withdrew from employment.

In a divorce matter, he represented a client whose husband lived in New York. Although he prepared documents, including a draft petition for dissolution, he did not file the petition for more than a year after he was hired. The court rejected his application for an order of publication because there was no affidavit or declaration regarding attempts to serve the husband in New York.

Nearly two years after she hired Kolter, the client asked for a status report, but Kolter did not respond. After complaining to the State Bar, the client sent him a letter asking that he complete her case within 60 days or immediately return her file and refund her $2,000 retainer. Kolter did not respond or complete the divorce.

A short time later, Kolter was suspended for failure to pay bar dues and a month later was placed on disciplinary suspension for a year. He never notified his client about his change of status, never completed the divorce and never refunded her fees.

The previous discipline was imposed for misconduct in eight client matters, including failure to perform legal services competently, communicate, maintain client funds in a trust account or promptly pay out client funds, and he committed acts of moral turpitude.

February 23, 2003

RAYMOND KIRK KOLTER [#152579], 40, of Los Angeles was revoked, the stay of suspension was lifted and he was actually suspended for two years, placed on probation for two years and was ordered to make restitution and pay certain medical liens. The order took effect Feb. 23, 2003.

Kolter was suspended and placed on probation in 2001. In a probation revocation hearing that Kolter did not participate in, the bar court found he failed to submit two quarterly probation reports and an affidavit showing proof of payment of medical liens to three doctors.

The underlying discipline involved eight client matters and included failure to perform services competently, communicate with clients, maintain in his trust account funds received for the benefit of clients or promptly pay lienholders and clients the funds they were owed, and he committed acts of moral turpitude.

October 14, 2001

RAYMOND KIRK KOLTER [#152579], 39, of Los Angeles was suspended for two years, stayed, placed on two years of probation with a one-year actual suspension and was ordered to make restitution, take the MPRE within one year and comply with rule 955. The order took effect Oct. 14, 2001.

Kolter stipulated to misconduct in nine consolidated cases.

In five matters, he failed to perform legal services competently, and in three of those five, he failed to communicate with his clients. For example, in a divorce case, he did not compel discovery responses, conduct further discovery, enforce court orders or prepare his client for trial. For eight months, he did not respond to his client’s numerous attempts to reach him by phone or fax.

Kolter also stipulated that in three matters, he failed to properly maintain his client trust account or pay settlement funds to his clients’ medical providers. He also wrote checks against insufficient funds in the trust account, failed to promptly pay out client funds and misappropriated funds he received for clients.

In mitigation, Kolter was suffering from the effects of diabetes, which was undiagnosed, at the time of the misconduct. In addition, his father passed away during the same time period.