Sebastian Charles Messer was admitted to the California Bar 16th December 1991, but has since been disbarred. Sebastian graduated from Southwestern University SOL.
Lawyer Information
| Name | Sebastian Charles Messer |
|---|---|
| First Admitted | 16 December 1991 (33 years, 5 months ago) |
| Status | Disbarred |
| Bar Number | 156586 |
Contact
| Phone Number | 310-820-6794 |
|---|---|
| Fax Number | 310-820-5144 |
Schools
| Law School | Southwestern University SOL (Los Angeles CA) |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate School | University of California Santa Barbara (CA) |
Address
| Current Address | 12304 Santa Monica Blvd 3FL Los Angeles, CA 90025 |
|---|---|
| Map |
History
| 18 October 2003 | Disbarred (21 years, 7 months ago) Disbarment 02-N-15468 |
|---|---|
| 3 May 2003 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (22 years, 1 month ago) Discipline w/actual suspension 01-H-05145 |
| 12 April 2003 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (22 years, 1 month ago) Ordered inactive 02-N-15468 |
| 31 March 2003 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (22 years, 2 months ago) Ordered inactive 02-N-15468 |
| 11 February 2003 | Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 02-N-15468 (22 years, 3 months ago) |
| 17 August 2002 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (22 years, 9 months ago) Discipline w/actual suspension 00-O-14920 |
| 28 March 2002 | Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 01-H-05145 (23 years, 2 months ago) |
| 12 November 2001 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (23 years, 6 months ago) Ordered inactive 00-O-14920 |
| 12 September 2001 | Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 00-O-14920 (23 years, 8 months ago) |
| 16 December 1991 | Admitted to the State Bar of California (33 years, 5 months ago) |
Discipline Summaries
October 18, 2003 SEBASTIAN CHARLES MESSNER [#156586], 38, of Los Angeles was disbarred Oct. 18, 2003, and was ordered to comply with rule 955. In a default proceeding, the State Bar Court determined that Messner failed to comply with rule 955, as ordered in a 2002 discipline. In that matter, he stipulated that he failed to comply with conditions attached to a private reproval imposed in 2000 for failing to perform legal services competently. Messner was disciplined again in 2002 for gross negligence and moral turpitude, based on mishandling his client trust account. He also failed to perform competently, communicate with clients, return unearned fees or cooperate with the bar's investigation, and he improperly withdrew from employment. There was no mitigation.May 3, 2003 SEBASTIAN CHARLES MESSER [#156586], 47, of Los Angeles was suspended for two years, stayed, placed on two years of probation with an actual one-year suspension and until he proves his rehabilitation, and was ordered to comply with rule 955. The order took effect May 3, 2003. Messer did not comply with probation conditions attached to a 2000 private reproval — he did not file four quarterly probation reports. The discipline was imposed because he failed to provide competent legal services.In addition, he was disciplined last year for failure to perform competently, deposit client funds in a trust account, communicate with clients, refund unearned fees or cooperate with the bar’s investigation, and he committed acts of moral turpitude.In mitigation, he cooperated with the bar’s investigation and he is seeking treatment for alcohol and substance abuse problems.August 17, 2002 SEBASTIAN C. MESSER [#156586], 47, of Los Angeles was suspended for two years, stayed, actually suspended for 90 days and until the State Bar Court grants a motion to end the suspension, and was ordered to take the MPRE and comply with rule 955. If the actual suspension exceeds two years, he must prove his rehabilitation. The order took effect Aug. 17, 2002. In a default proceeding, the bar court found that Messer misappropriated and commingled funds, improperly withdrew from employment and failed to perform services competently, communicate with a client, return unearned fees or cooperate with a bar investigation.He was charged with misconduct in four cases.The court found that in 2000, Messer mismanaged and mishandled his client trust account by commingling funds and allowing the balance to fall below the required amount twice. He used funds belonging to one client to make payments to another client, and he wrote one check against insufficient funds. His actions constituted moral turpitude. In a personal injury case on behalf of a minor, Messer was required to take a series of steps for settlement funds to be released. He never did and did not respond to letters and phone calls from his client and opposing counsel.Another client asked for a refund of her $3,000 advance fee. Messer's check bounced and he never refunded the fee. Messer was privately reproved in 2000 for failing to competently perform legal services. |