Crane Stephen Landis was first admitted to the California Bar 9th December 1999, but is now no longer eligible to practice. Crane graduated from UC College of the Law, San Francisco.

Lawyer Information

NameCrane Stephen Landis
First Admitted9 December 1999 (24 years, 4 months ago)
StatusNot Eligible to Practice
Bar Number205057

Contact

Phone Number310-493-9020

Schools

Law SchoolUC College of the Law, San Francisco (San Francisco CA)
Undergraduate SchoolUniversity of California at Los Angeles (CA)

Address

Current Address2390 Via Mariposa W Unit 29
Laguna Woods, CA 92637
Map

History

3 July 2012Not eligible to practice law in CA (11 years, 9 months ago)
Admin Inactive/MCLE noncompliance
1 July 2011Not eligible to practice law in CA (12 years, 10 months ago)
Suspended, failed to pay fees
25 July 2010Not eligible to practice law in CA (13 years, 9 months ago)
Discipline w/actual suspension 07-O-10673
23 September 2009Conviction record transmitted to State Bar Court 09-C-10280 (14 years, 7 months ago)
12 June 2008Not eligible to practice law in CA (15 years, 10 months ago)
Discipline w/actual suspension 07-O-10037
23 September 2007Not eligible to practice law in CA (16 years, 7 months ago)
Ordered inactive 07-O-10037
1 May 2007Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 07-O-10037 (16 years, 12 months ago)
17 October 2006Active (17 years, 6 months ago)
18 September 2006Not eligible to practice law in CA (17 years, 7 months ago)
Suspended, failed to pay fees
18 September 2006Not eligible to practice law in CA (17 years, 7 months ago)
Admin Inactive/MCLE noncompliance
20 October 2003Active (20 years, 6 months ago)
16 September 2003Not eligible to practice law in CA (20 years, 7 months ago)
Admin Inactive/MCLE noncompliance
9 December 1999Admitted to the State Bar of California (24 years, 4 months ago)

Discipline Summaries

July 25, 2010

CRANE STEPHEN LANDIS [#205057], 45, of Santa Monica was suspended for two years, stayed, placed on three years of probation with an actual 10-month suspension and until he proves his rehabilitation, and he was ordered to take the MPRE and comply with rule 9.20 of the California Rules of Court. The order took effect July 25, 2010.

Landis stipulated to seven counts of misconduct in three client matters.

In the first, he filed a lawsuit to collect the unpaid balance on a promissory note but then failed to appear at two hearings and the case was dismissed. Landis was sanctioned three times – $725 for failing to appear at a case management conference, $1,500 for discovery sanctions and $1,000 as a default relief sanction. He paid the $725, but neither paid nor reported the other two sanctions to the bar. He also didn’t notify his clients of the dismissal.

He stipulated that he failed to perform legal services competently, report sanctions to the bar, obey a court order, keep clients informed of significant developments in their case or cooperate with the bar’s investigation.

In a second matter, Landis practiced law while not authorized as a result of not responding to disciplinary charges. He appeared twice in criminal court and gave legal advice to his client.

In the third matter, he did not file a rule 9.20 compliance affidavit on time as required by a 2008 discipline. He was required to notify his clients, opposing counsel and other pertinent parties of his suspension, but he filed the requisite affidavit 58 days late.

In a default proceeding in 2008, the bar court found that Landis committed misconduct in two client matters while he was on inactive status for a month as a result of not completing his MCLE requirements.

In mitigation, he cooperated with the bar’s investigation and he suffers from severe depression.

June 12, 2008

CRANE STEPHEN LANDIS [#205057], 43, of Mission Viejo was suspended for one year, stayed, actually suspended for 90 days and until the State Bar Court grants a motion to terminate the suspension and was ordered to take the MPRE and comply with rule 9.20. If the actual suspension exceeds two years, he must prove his rehabilitation. The order took effect June 12, 2008.

In a default proceeding, the bar court found that Landis committed misconduct in two client matters while he was on inactive status for a month as a result of not completing his MCLE requirements.

He substituted in to the case of an incarcerated individual who was trying to get his medical records in order to receive better care. The inmate also gave Landis some probate documents for copying. For months, Landis did not copy the documents or get the medical records, and the client finally asked the court to remove Landis as his lawyer. The court replaced him and ordered that he give the client’s file to a new lawyer, but Landis did not comply.

The court found that he failed to perform legal services competently, communicate with a client, return a client file or cooperate with the bar’s investigation, and he violated a court order.

In another criminal matter, he represented a client who was charged with three misdemeanors. Although the client told Landis she would be working in England for several months, he did not inform the court; when the client was not present for arraignment, a bench warrant was issued for her arrest. It was recalled, but still Landis did not inform the court of his client’s whereabouts. When she did not appear for a pre-trial conference, another bench warrant was issued.

She appeared at another hearing and the warrant was recalled. Landis did not tell the court that at the time of the last hearing, he was suspended. The client fired him and asked that he refund her unearned fee.

The court found that he failed to communicate with a client, account for client fees or cooperate with the bar’s investigation, and he practiced law while suspended.