Franklin Knight Lane III was admitted to the California Bar 6th June 1951, but is now resigned. Franklin graduated from University of Virginia SOL.

Lawyer Information

NameFranklin Knight Lane III
First Admitted6 June 1951 (72 years, 11 months ago)
StatusResigned
Bar Number22494

Contact

Phone Number310-207-2204

Schools

Law SchoolUniversity of Virginia SOL (Charlottesville VA)
Undergraduate SchoolUniversity of Virginia (Charlottesville VA)

Address

Current Address12304 Santa Monica Bl #300
Los Angeles, CA 90025
Map

History

12 November 2000Resigned (23 years, 5 months ago)
Resignation with charges pending 00-Q-13895
25 September 2000Not eligible to practice law in CA (23 years, 7 months ago)
Vol.inactive(tender of resign.w/charges) 00-Q-13895
6 December 1999Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 99-O-12658 (24 years, 4 months ago)
10 November 1999Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 98-O-00990 (24 years, 5 months ago)
15 September 1999Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 96-O-03366 (24 years, 7 months ago)
16 November 1997Not eligible to practice law in CA (26 years, 5 months ago)
Discipline w/actual suspension 95-O-13440
21 July 1997Not eligible to practice law in CA (26 years, 9 months ago)
Suspended, failed to pay fees
5 March 1997Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 95-O-16660 (27 years, 1 month ago)
16 August 1996Discipline, probation; no actual susp. 94-O-18374 (27 years, 8 months ago)
11 June 1996Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 95-O-13440 (27 years, 10 months ago)
31 October 1995Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 94-O-18374 (28 years, 6 months ago)
14 October 1994Discipline, probation; no actual susp. 88-O-14941 (29 years, 6 months ago)
5 October 1994Active (29 years, 7 months ago)
6 August 1994Not eligible to practice law in CA (29 years, 9 months ago)
Discipline w/actual suspension 86-O-14623
14 September 1993Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 88-O-14941 (30 years, 7 months ago)
12 December 1988Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 86-O-14623 (35 years, 4 months ago)
6 June 1951Admitted to the State Bar of California (72 years, 11 months ago)

Discipline Summaries

August 29, 1997

FRANKLIN KNIGHT LANE III [#22494], 73, of Los Angeles was suspended for four years, stayed, and placed on probation for four years on the condition that he is actually suspended for three months and until he makes restitution, effective Aug. 29, 1997.

If the period of actual suspension continues for two years or longer, he will remain actually suspended until he has shown proof of his fitness to practice.

The actual suspension was temporarily stayed from Sept. 5 to Oct. 15, 1997. He was ordered to comply with rule 955 of the California Rules of Court.

Lane’s current misconduct involved three clients. In one instance, he failed to appear at a client’s deposition, falsely informing opposing counsel in a probate matter that he would be unavailable due to sudden medical problems requiring immediate attention. He stipulated that his misrepresentation involved moral turpitude.

In another instance, Lane was hired by a client for representation in a civil matter against a bank. He failed to serve the summons and complaint on the bank and failed to appear in court for a status conference. The case was dismissed for failure to appear.

In a third case, Lane was hired by an incarcerated client to seek a writ of habeas corpus, but he failed to perform legal services competently or return unearned fees.

In aggravation, Lane has a prior record of discipline. In July 1994, he received a three-year stayed suspension with 60 days actual; in September 1994, he was suspended for six months, stayed; and in July 1996, he received a two-year stayed suspension.

His misconduct was surrounded by bad faith and dishonesty and he significantly harmed a client.

In mitigation, Lane was deeply remorseful for the misstatements he made regarding the deposition in the probate case.

In the matter involving the lawsuit against the bank, Lane also was remorseful for his misconduct. Although he accepted blame for his inaction and delay, the fact that his client moved to Iran after the lawsuit was filed made it difficult for Lane to communicate with him.

After the client found out that his suit was dismissed, Lane offered to try to set aside the dismissal, but his client refused his services.

August 16, 1996

FRANKLIN KNIGHT LANE III [#22494], 72, of Los Angeles was suspended for two years, stayed, and placed on probation for two years, effective Aug. 16, 1996.

Knight was disciplined for practicing law while he was suspended from Aug. 6 to Oct. 5, 1994. During that period, he filed a petition on behalf of a client to be appointed a successor trustee in superior court.

Knight erroneously believed that his suspension had terminated by the time he filed his client's petition. When he discovered the error, he withdrew from the case and did not charge his client fees for his services.

In aggravation, Lane has a record of two prior disciplinary actions. In 1994, he received a three-year stayed suspension and 60 days actual, and also a six-month stayed suspension which ran consecutive to the prior disciplinary action.

In mitigation, Lane cooperated with the bar's investigation and promptly took steps to rectify the situation involving his practice of law while on suspension.