Cathye Elaine Leonard was admitted to the California Bar 20th October 1995, but has since been disbarred. Cathye graduated from Golden Gate University SOL.
Lawyer Information
| Name | Cathye Elaine Leonard |
|---|---|
| First Admitted | 20 October 1995 (28 years, 6 months ago) |
| Status | Disbarred |
| Bar Number | 177791 |
Contact
| Phone Number | 510-451-2525 |
|---|
Schools
| Law School | Golden Gate University SOL (San Francisco CA) |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate School | University of California Berkeley (Berkeley CA) |
Address
| Current Address | Law Ofc Cathye E Leonard, PO Box 813 Berkeley, CA 94701-0813 |
|---|---|
| Map |
History
| 4 November 2010 | Disbarred (13 years, 6 months ago) Disbarment 09-O-10292 |
|---|---|
| 20 May 2010 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (13 years, 11 months ago) Ordered inactive 09-O-10292 |
| 7 February 2010 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (14 years, 2 months ago) Discipline w/actual suspension 08-O-10817 |
| 1 February 2010 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (14 years, 3 months ago) Ordered inactive 09-O-10292 |
| 2 November 2009 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (14 years, 6 months ago) Suspended, failed to pass Prof.Resp.Exam 04-O-10126 |
| 15 August 2009 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (14 years, 8 months ago) Ordered inactive 08-O-10817 |
| 1 July 2008 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (15 years, 10 months ago) Suspended, failed to pay fees |
| 5 October 2007 | Active (16 years, 7 months ago) |
| 16 August 2007 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (16 years, 8 months ago) Suspended, failed to pay fees |
| 15 January 2006 | Discipline, probation; no actual susp. 04-O-10126 (18 years, 3 months ago) |
| 2 February 2005 | Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 04-O-11291 (19 years, 3 months ago) |
| 16 November 2004 | Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 04-O-10126 (19 years, 5 months ago) |
| 20 October 1995 | Admitted to the State Bar of California (28 years, 6 months ago) |
Discipline Summaries
November 4, 2010 CATHYE ELAINE LEONARD [#177791], 54, of Berkeley was disbarred Nov. 4, 2010, and she 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 Leonard committed four acts of misconduct in a dissolution matter. She did not provide monthly statements or account for any of the $3,000 advance fee.While she was suspended for not paying bar dues for two different periods in 2007 and 2008, the dissolution was still pending and Leonard remained counsel of record. She never informed her client of the suspensions. When the court discovered the suspensions, it issued an order to show cause for Leonard’s failure to attend a mandatory settlement conference and to advise the court of her ineligibility to practice law. However, she had moved without informing the court of her new address and the order was returned as undeliverable.The bar court found that she failed to communicate with her client, account for funds, refund unearned fees or keep her address current with the bar.Leonard was disciplined in 2006 and 2010. In recommending her disbarment, Judge Pat McElroy wrote, “The present matter reflects some of the same misconduct for which (Leonard) has been disciplined in the past — namely failing to communicate with her client and failing to pay unearned fees.â€February 7, 2010 CATHYE E. LEONARD [#177791], 54, of Berkeley was suspended for two years, stayed, and actually suspended for 90 days and until the State Bar Court grants a motion to end the suspension, and she was ordered to make restitution, take the MPRE and comply with rule 9.20 of the California Rules of Court. If the actual suspension exceeds two years, she must prove her rehabilitation. The order took effect Feb. 7, 2010. In a default proceeding, the bar court found that Leonard committed four acts of misconduct in a family law matter. She was hired to seek a change of venue for her client as well as a change of custody for his daughter. Leonard took no action on her client’s behalf, did not earn any of the $2,000 advance fee and did not return the client’s file as requested. She did not cooperate with the bar’s investigation.Leonard was disciplined in 2006 for committing seven acts of similar misconduct in four matters.January 15, 2006 CATHYE ELAINE LEONARD [#177791], 49, of Oakland was suspended for one year, stayed, placed on two years of probation and was ordered to make restitution and take the MPRE within one year. The order took effect Jan. 15, 2006. Leonard stipulated to misconduct in four cases.In the first, she represented a merchant marine facing child support arrearages. His passport was cancelled due to the arrearages and he needed a passport to qualify for jobs. Leonard did not inform either the district attorney or superior court in Sacramento that she was representing the man, so neither she nor her client received notice of a hearing. The court ordered a wage assignment of $1,800 per month. Leonard did not respond to several phone messages from the client, and when he fired her and demanded a refund of his $3,000 advance fee, she refused.In a second matter, Leonard was retained for assistance in a marital dissolution matter. Another individual paid the client’s $2,500 fee, but Leonard did not obtain the client’s written permission after required disclosures about the fee.Leonard worked for a time on a child custody case, but never substituted out. She did not promptly return the client’s file when asked, nor did she refund the unearned fee she owed. She eventually refunded the entire $2,500 advance fee.Leonard and three other trial attorneys working together on a wrongful death action hired an appellate lawyer to prepare a petition for writ of mandate. When the case settled, one of the other lawyers paid the appellate lawyer and asked the others to reimburse him for their share of the cost. Leonard did not promptly pay her $2,000 share.In mitigation, she has no prior discipline record and she cooperated with the bar’s investigation. |