Craig Michael Silman Jr was admitted to the California Bar 7th March 2002, but has since been disbarred. Craig graduated from Santa Clara University SOL.

Lawyer Information

NameCraig Michael Silman Jr
First Admitted7 March 2002 (22 years, 2 months ago)
StatusDisbarred
Bar Number218914

Schools

Law SchoolSanta Clara University SOL (Santa Clara CA)
Undergraduate SchoolSanta Clara University (Santa Clara CA)

Address

Current Address1400 Coleman Ave Ste G15F
Santa Clara, CA 95050
Map

History

21 January 2010Disbarred (14 years, 3 months ago)
Disbarment 08-O-10901
15 August 2009Not eligible to practice law in CA (14 years, 8 months ago)
Ordered inactive 08-O-10901
10 May 2009Not eligible to practice law in CA (14 years, 12 months ago)
Ordered inactive 09-N-10330
11 April 2009Not eligible to practice law in CA (15 years ago)
Ordered inactive 08-O-10901
14 December 2008Not eligible to practice law in CA (15 years, 4 months ago)
Discipline w/actual suspension 07-H-11875
23 July 2008Active (15 years, 9 months ago)
1 July 2008Not eligible to practice law in CA (15 years, 10 months ago)
Admin Inactive/MCLE noncompliance
5 July 2007Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 07-H-11875 (16 years, 10 months ago)
7 March 2002Admitted to the State Bar of California (22 years, 2 months ago)

Discipline Summaries

January 21, 2010

CRAIG MICHAEL SILMAN JR. [#218914], 41, of Santa Clara was disbarred Jan. 21, 2010, and was ordered to comply with rule 9.20 of the California Rules of Court.

In a default proceeding, the State Bar Court found that Silman committed multiple acts of misconduct in two matters, including misappropriating $89,844.53 and failing to comply with rule 9.20.

In an effort to secure settlement funds for pending lawsuits regarding ownership of a piece of real property, Silman agreed to assist his client in obtaining a loan against the client’s home. The client received a loan of $375,000 and gave more than $240,000 to Silman to hold in his client trust account. They were the only funds in the account.

Silman transferred almost $13,000 to his general operating account without the client’s knowledge; he later moved about $7,000 back to the trust account. Over subsequent months, he withdrew an additional $52,000 from the account without the client’s knowledge, using the money for his personal use and benefit.

Silman later transferred $118,000 from the client trust account to a title company in order to fund settlement of a case. Although the client instructed Silman to authorize disbursements for the client’s use, Silman told the title company to provide him with more than $17,000. In total, he misappropriated $89,844.53 although he did make payments of about $19,000 on the client’s behalf.

Silman was disciplined in 2008 and was ordered to submit an affidavit to the State Bar Court stating that he notified his clients, opposing counsel and other interested parties of his suspension. He never submitted the affidavit.

That discipline was imposed when Silman did not comply with probation conditions attached to a 2006 private reproval for failure to perform legal services or communicate with a client.

December 14, 2008

CRAIG M. SILMAN JR. [#218914], 40, of Santa Clara was suspended for two years, stayed, placed on three years of probation with a 90-day actual suspension and was ordered to take the MPRE and comply with rule 9.20. The order took effect Dec. 14, 2008.

Silman violated three of seven conditions attached to a 2006 private reproval. He failed to schedule a meeting with a probation officer, submit the four quarterly reports and attend ethics school. The reproval was imposed after Silman stipulated to recklessly failing to competently perform legal services and communicate with his client.

Although Silman testified that he suffers from depression and bipolar disorder, the bar court said there was insufficient evidence of a connection between his mental health problems and the misconduct.