Martin John Ruane was admitted to the California Bar 8th June 1992, but has since been disbarred. Martin graduated from San Francisco Law School.

Lawyer Information

NameMartin John Ruane
First Admitted8 June 1992 (32 years, 11 months ago)
StatusDisbarred
Bar Number158104

Schools

Law SchoolSan Francisco Law School (San Francisco CA)
Undergraduate SchoolUniversity of California San Diego (La Jolla CA)

Address

Current AddressLaw Offices of Martin J Ruane, Inc, PO Box 487
Ross, CA 94957
Map

History

27 July 2011Disbarred (13 years, 9 months ago)
Disbarment 08-C-13604
21 January 2011Not eligible to practice law in CA (14 years, 3 months ago)
Ordered inactive 08-C-13604
25 October 2010Not eligible to practice law in CA (14 years, 6 months ago)
Ordered inactive 09-O-10158
10 September 2010Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 09-O-10158 (14 years, 7 months ago)
1 September 2010Not eligible to practice law in CA (14 years, 8 months ago)
Suspended, failed to pay fees
17 July 2010Not eligible to practice law in CA (14 years, 9 months ago)
Ordered inactive 08-C-13604
14 January 2010Conviction record transmitted to State Bar Court 08-C-13604 (15 years, 3 months ago)
8 September 2009Active (15 years, 7 months ago)
1 July 2009Not eligible to practice law in CA (15 years, 10 months ago)
Suspended, failed to pay fees
8 December 2004Private reproval, public disclosure 02-C-15738 (20 years, 4 months ago)
8 June 1992Admitted to the State Bar of California (32 years, 11 months ago)

Discipline Summaries

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.