Dana Allan Godfrey was admitted to the California Bar 6th June 1991, but has since been disbarred. Dana graduated from University of LaVerne COL.
Lawyer Information
| Name | Dana Allan Godfrey |
|---|---|
| First Admitted | 6 June 1991 (32 years, 11 months ago) |
| Status | Disbarred |
| Bar Number | 152913 |
Contact
| Current Email | [email protected] |
|---|---|
| Phone Number | 888-622-3054 |
| Fax Number | 888-657-2591 |
Schools
| Law School | University of LaVerne COL (Ontario CA) |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate School | San Diego State University (San Diego CA) |
Address
| Current Address | Godfrey Law Group, 324 S Diamond Bar Blvd # 194 Diamond Bar, CA 91765 |
|---|---|
| Map |
History
| 28 May 2016 | Disbarred (7 years, 11 months ago) Disbarment 14-O-04181 |
|---|---|
| 6 November 2015 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (8 years, 5 months ago) Ordered inactive 14-O-04181 |
| 6 September 2015 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (8 years, 8 months ago) Discipline w/actual suspension 15-PM-10767 |
| 21 May 2015 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (8 years, 11 months ago) Ordered inactive 15-PM-10767 |
| 13 April 2015 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (9 years ago) Ordered inactive 14-O-04181 |
| 8 March 2015 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (9 years, 1 month ago) Discipline w/actual suspension 14-PM-03874 |
| 11 February 2015 | Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 14-O-04181 (9 years, 2 months ago) |
| 5 January 2015 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (9 years, 3 months ago) Suspended, failed to pass Prof.Resp.Exam 12-O-12875 |
| 30 October 2014 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (9 years, 6 months ago) Discipline w/actual suspension 13-O-13456 |
| 6 October 2014 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (9 years, 7 months ago) Ordered inactive 14-PM-03874 |
| 1 July 2014 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (9 years, 10 months ago) Suspended, failed to pay fees |
| 11 December 2013 | Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 13-O-13456 (10 years, 4 months ago) |
| 13 October 2013 | Active (10 years, 6 months ago) |
| 13 September 2013 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (10 years, 7 months ago) Discipline w/actual suspension 12-O-12875 |
| 18 October 2012 | Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 12-O-12875 (11 years, 6 months ago) |
| 6 June 1991 | Admitted to the State Bar of California (32 years, 11 months ago) |
Discipline Summaries
May 28, 2016 DANA ALLAN GODFREY [#152913], 65, of Diamond Bar, was disbarred May 28, 2016 and ordered to comply with rule 9.20 of the California Rules of Court. Godfrey was disbarred after his default was entered for failing to respond to a notice of disciplinary charges. Because he did not seek to have the default set aside or vacated within 90 days, he was disbarred and the charges against him deemed admitted.Godfrey engaged in the unauthorized practice of law while he was not an active member of the State Bar and failed to respond to two letters from a State Bar investigator looking into the allegations against him.He had four prior records of discipline. In 2013, he was suspended for recklessly, intentionally or repeatedly failing to perform legal services with competence and failing to keep a client reasonably informed of a significant development in a matter, render appropriate accounts to a client or participate and cooperate in a disciplinary investigation. In 2014, he was suspended again for failing to render an accounting to his client regarding fees and costs, recklessly, intentionally or repeatedly failing to perform with competence, failing to keep his client reasonably informed of significant developments in a matter, and violating or disobeying a court order.In 2015, his probation was revoked twice for not following a number of the conditions of his probation.March 8, 2015 DANA ALLEN GODFREY [#152913], 64, of Diamond Bar, was suspended from the practice of law for one year and until he makes restitution and ordered to comply with rule 9.20 of the California Rules of Court. In addition, he was placed on two years’ probation and faces a one-year suspension if he does not comply with the terms of his disciplinary probation. The order took effect March 8, 2015. Godfrey was suspended after his probation was revoked for failing to provide proof that he’d made restitution payments to two former clients. He was ordered to pay $4,320 plus interest in restitution.Godfrey had two prior records of discipline.In October 2014, he stipulated to four ethical violations in a single client matter: failing to account for an advanced fee, to perform, to communicate or to pay court-ordered sanctions.In September 2013, he was suspended for six violations involving two client matters: failing to communicate, to perform, to account for an advanced fee or to cooperate in a disciplinary investigation.October 30, 2014 DANA ALLAN GODFREY [#152913], 63, of Diamond Bar, was suspended for 30 days and ordered to take the MPRE and make restitution. He was also placed on two years’ probation and faces a one-year suspension if he does not comply with the terms of his disciplinary probation. The order took effect Oct. 30, 2014. Godfrey stipulated to misconduct in one client matter. In 2008, he was hired to handle a client’s divorce case and was paid $30,000 in advanced fees. The parties were able to come to a partial settlement but then Godfrey’s phone was disconnected, and the client was unable to contact him for months.In March 2010, Godfrey presented the opposing side with a settlement proposal. That April, the client contacted Godfrey asking for an update on his case. He closed his solo practice the following month and started working as an associate with a firm, which he told the client about but did not give notice to the court or opposing counsel. In January 2012, he began working for yet another firm but did not tell the client, the court or opposing counsel. The client did not learn of his whereabouts until March 2012, after being unable to get in touch with Godfrey for nearly two years.During that time, in June 2011, opposing counsel had filed a motion to compel production of documents and for sanctions against the client premised upon his failure to respond to discovery. Godfrey did not file opposition to the motion and did not appear at the hearing on the matter despite having proper notice.As a result of Godfrey’s inattention to the case, his client was sanctioned twice – for $3,400 in August 2011 and for $500 in December 2011. Opposing counsel was also able to bring an unopposed motion to determine the valuation of the client’s business, which was granted on Jan. 30, 2012. In March 2013, the client learned Godfrey had changed jobs, and the old firm was able to file a motion to set aside the valuation order. The client asked Godfrey for an accounting but he did not comply.He was ordered to pay $500 plus interest in restitution. In mitigation, he entered into a pretrial stipulation with the State Bar.Godfrey had one prior record of discipline, a 2013 suspension for misconduct in two matters including failing to render accounts of client funds, perform, refund an unearned fee, advise a client of significant events or cooperate.September 13, 2013 DANA ALLAN GODFREY [#152913], 62, of Diamond Bar, was suspended for one year, stayed, placed on two years' probation with an actual 30-day suspension, ordered to take the MPRE and pay restitution. The order took effect Sept. 13, 2013. Godfrey stipulated that he failed to returned unearned fees to two clients he represented in family law matters, abide by the terms of his retainer agreements with them before and after he started work with a new firm, return unearned fees or cooperate with a State Bar investigation.In one of the matters, Godfrey’s client was unable to reach him for six months about her divorce case because he didn’t tell her he had taken a new job. He failed to show up for a status conference in her case. Godfrey then substituted his new firm in as attorney of record in her case. Despite repeated requests, Godfrey failed to provide the client with an itemized billing statement reflecting the status of $5,000 in advanced fees the client paid him at the start of her case. Godfrey also failed to attend a mandatory settlement conference. He later provided the State Bar with an accounting indicating that he had not earned $2,375 of the fees the client advanced him.In the other matter, Godfrey failed to respond to a client’s repeated requests for an itemized billing statement showing the status of $3,500 in advanced fees she had paid him. Godfrey ultimately provided the State Bar with an accounting indicating that $1,945 of the fees had not been earned.Godfrey was ordered to pay $4,320 plus interest in restitution.In mitigation, he had no other discipline in more than 21 years of practice. |