Ross, CA 94957
27 July 2011 | Disbarred (13 years, 9 months ago) Disbarment 08-C-13604 |
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21 January 2011 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (14 years, 3 months ago) Ordered inactive 08-C-13604 |
25 October 2010 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (14 years, 6 months ago) Ordered inactive 09-O-10158 |
10 September 2010 | Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 09-O-10158 (14 years, 7 months ago) |
1 September 2010 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (14 years, 8 months ago) Suspended, failed to pay fees |
17 July 2010 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (14 years, 9 months ago) Ordered inactive 08-C-13604 |
14 January 2010 | Conviction record transmitted to State Bar Court 08-C-13604 (15 years, 3 months ago) |
8 September 2009 | Active (15 years, 7 months ago) |
1 July 2009 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (15 years, 10 months ago) Suspended, failed to pay fees |
8 December 2004 | Private reproval, public disclosure 02-C-15738 (20 years, 4 months ago) |
8 June 1992 | Admitted to the State Bar of California (32 years, 11 months ago) |
July 27, 2011 MARTIN JOHN RUANE [#158104], 52, of Ross was disbarred July 27, 2011, 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 Ruane committed eight acts of misconduct in three matters, including misappropriating $47,500 from a client.In the first matter, he pleaded guilty to driving under the influence with a prior.In another matter, a client hired Ruane to file a civil lawsuit and paid $6,000 as advance fees. He never prepared or filed the lawsuit, although he sent a billing statement that included a $320 filing fee. He stipulated that he failed to perform legal services competently or refund unearned fees and he committed acts of moral turpitude by making misrepresentations to his client and misappropriating client funds.He was hired by another client to recover property damage from a vehicle fire. He filed suit and negotiated a settlement, receiving $47,500 on the client’s behalf. He put the money in his personal account and didn’t notify the client of his receipt of funds or pay out any of the money. Ruane ignored several inquiries but later notified a representative of the client that he hoped to receive the settlement funds soon. In fact, he already had the money. He stipulated that he failed to communicate with the client or pay out client funds, and he admitted to two counts of moral turpitude by making misstatements and misappropriating client money.Characterizing Ruane’s misconduct as “egregious,†State Bar Court Judge Pat McElroy recommended his disbarment as a result of his misappropriation and failure to participate in the proceedings, among other things. |