Joseph Rego

January 8, 2015

JOSEPH JAMES REGO [#163183], 58, of San Diego, was disbarred Jan. 8, 2015 and ordered to comply with rule 9.20 of the California Rules of Court and to pay restitution. Rego stipulated to misconduct in five matters including: collecting advanced fees for loan modification services, holding himself out as entitled to practice law when he was suspended, committing an act involving moral turpitude, failing upon termination to take reasonable steps to avoid foreseeable prejudice to his client and failing to perform legal services with competence, refund unearned fees, keep clients informed of significant developments in their matters, render an appropriate accounting, promptly pay client funds or comply with all conditions attached to his disciplinary probation. In one matter, Rego was hired in March 2011 to represent a husband and wife in a Chapter 13 bankruptcy and for home loan modification services. At the time, a trustee sale had been set for the sale of their home. Rego filed a bankruptcy petition and initiated proceedings, which had the effect of postponing the sale, and performed home loan modification services. While their home loan modification application was pending, Rego filed an amended debtor’s plan in the bankruptcy case. After the attorney for the bankruptcy trustee filed an objection to the confirmation debtor’s plan and moved to dismiss the case, Rego was given extra time to fix the problems with the plan but failed to do so. The court ultimately dismissed the couple’s case, and the couple was evicted from their home after it was sold. In November 2013, the couple asked for a refund of unearned bankruptcy and home mortgage loan modification fees. As of the date of his stipulation, Rego had not repaid any portion of the $3,300 unearned bankruptcy fees or the $2,500 home mortgage loan modification fees. In another matter, Rego failed to abide by the terms of a stipulation prohibiting him from practicing law for one year in the U. S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of California. Rego was required to notify the Federal Discipline Committee that all of his pending bankruptcy client matters had been referred to other counsel, but did not do so by deadline despite repeated reminders. When he did send a letter, it was untruthful because he was still the attorney of record for at least 13 bankruptcy clients and had at least nine Chapter 7 bankruptcy matters. Rego then practiced law while suspended by holding himself as entitled to practice law in 12 bankruptcy client matters. He also held himself out as entitled to practice law during disciplinary proceedings in the Southern District in a 13th matter. In another matter for which he was disciplined, he represented a client in three different civil cases. When one of the cases, against a sheriff’s department, settled, Rego gave the client $1,000 of the settlement funds he was entitled to but failed to disperse the remaining $2,334. In the client’s two other cases, he did some early work, but did not follow through and did no other legal services of value. After his work ceased, Rego did not substitute out and did not file a motion to be withdraw as attorney of record. Rego’s inaction led one of the cases to be dismissed. Rego was ordered to pay $19,434 plus interest in restitution. He had one prior record of discipline, a 2012 suspension for disobeying a court order and failing to perform legal services competently.

December 19, 2012

JOSEPH JAMES REGO [#163183], 56, of San Diego was suspended for one year, stayed, placed on two years of probation with an actual 30-day suspension and he was ordered to take the MPRE. The order took effect Dec. 19, 2012.