Walnut Creek, CA 94597-7758
1 July 2022 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (2 years, 10 months ago) Suspended, failed to pay fees |
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1 October 2020 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (4 years, 7 months ago) Suspended, failed to pay fees |
21 November 2016 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (8 years, 5 months ago) Suspended, failed to pass Prof.Resp.Exam 10-O-05018 |
10 February 2015 | Active (10 years, 2 months ago) |
26 July 2014 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (10 years, 9 months ago) Discipline w/actual suspension 12-O-14753 |
1 July 2014 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (10 years, 10 months ago) Suspended, failed to pay fees |
13 September 2013 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (11 years, 7 months ago) Discipline w/actual suspension 10-O-07779 |
25 June 2013 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (11 years, 10 months ago) Ordered Inactive/Fee Arb/B&P 6203 |
8 November 2012 | Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 12-O-14914 (12 years, 5 months ago) |
6 September 2012 | Probation with conditions 10-O-05018 (12 years, 8 months ago) |
9 October 2011 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (13 years, 6 months ago) Discipline w/actual suspension 10-O-05018 |
6 September 2011 | Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 11-O-12670 (13 years, 8 months ago) |
10 June 2011 | Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 10-O-07779 (13 years, 10 months ago) |
7 January 2011 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (14 years, 3 months ago) Ordered inactive 10-O-05018 |
29 October 2010 | Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 10-O-05018 (14 years, 6 months ago) |
1 June 2006 | Admitted to the State Bar of California (18 years, 11 months ago) |
July 26, 2014 SEAN DONRAD [#242665], 46, of Oakland, was suspended from the practice of law for six months and ordered to comply with rule 9.20 of the California Rules of Court. He was also placed on probation for three years and faces a three-year suspension if he does not comply with the terms of his probation. The order took effect July 26, 2014. The State Bar Court found Donrad culpable of seven counts of misconduct in two client matters, including practicing law while not entitled, charging or collecting an illegal fee, and failing to refund unearned fees, inform a client of significant developments, perform legal services with competence or cooperate in a disciplinary investigation.In the first matter in 2011, Donrad accepted $300 to help with a man’s immigration matter even though he was not eligible to practice law at the time. Donrad performed no legal services of value on the client’s behalf, and the client said he never heard from Donrad again after he gave him his check. Also, Donrad never told the client he was not eligible to practice law.In the other matter in 2010, Donrad was hired to represent a client in a civil ligation matter. Despite filing the lawsuit, Donrad failed to show up a for a status conference in the case and did not file an amended complaint on time. Donrad also did not show up for two other case management conferences, and in February 2011 the judge dismissed the case due to Donrad’s failure to file an amended complaint. Donrad did not move to have the dismissal set aside or tell the client that he never filed the amended complaint.Donrad also did not respond to a State Bar investigator’s letter asking he respond to allegations the client made against him in the two matters.Donrad had two prior records of discipline. In 2011, he was suspended after being found culpable of failing to perform legal services with competence, return client documents or refund an unearned fee. The other discipline was in 2013, when Donrad was suspended for misconduct in three client matters. He failed to perform legal services with competence, refund an unearned fee, render an accounting or inform clients of significant developments. He also committed an act of moral turpitude by misrepresentation, misleading a judge and engaging in the unauthorized practice of law.September 13, 2013 SEAN DONRAD [#242665], 45, of Piedmont, was suspended for two years, stayed, and placed on two years' probation with an actual suspension of one-year and until he makes restitution. He was also ordered to take the MPRE and comply with rule 9.20 of the California Rules of Court. The order took effect Sept. 13, 2013. Donrad sought review of a hearing judge’s discipline recommendation for committing ethical violations involving three clients: performing incompetently, committing an act of moral turpitude by misrepresentation, misleading a judge, engaging in the unauthorized practice of law and failing to return unearned fees, render an accounting or inform a client of significant developments. A three-judge review panel adopted the hearings judge’s findings and discipline recommendation.In one of the matters Donrad was disciplined for, which occurred in 2009, he charged a client $3,800 to help settle his divorce case, but didn’t perform any legal services on his behalf. The client fired him and asked him for an accounting of the $3,800 and a refund of any unearned fees, but Donrad never responded.In another matter, Donrad was hired to represent a homeowner in a complaint filed against his homeowners’ association alleging that it had improperly collected dues. In January 2011, he was enrolled inactive and ineligible to practice law after his default was entered in a prior discipline case. Donrad did not tell the client about his status, then failed to show up for a critical hearing and failed to arrange for another attorney to appear in his place.Donrad was ordered to pay $3,800 plus interest in restitution.Donrad’s default stemmed from a 2011 discipline in which he was suspended for failures to perform with competence, release a client file or refund unearned fees in a single client matter.October 9, 2011 SEAN DONRAD, 44, of Piedmont was suspended for one year, stayed, actually suspended for 60 days and until he makes restitution and the State Bar Court grants a motion to terminate the suspension, and he was ordered to take the MPRE. If the actual suspension exceeds 90 days, he must comply with rule 9.20 of the California Rules of Court; if it exceeds two years, he must prove his rehabilitation. The order took effect Oct. 9, 2011. In a default proceeding, the bar court found that Donrad failed to perform legal services competently, return a client’s file or refund an unearned fee in a patent infringement claim he handled for a client who paid a $5,000 advance fee. Although he agreed to perform various legal duties, he took no action of substantive value and the client fired him. He provided no information about a potential claim and didn’t prove that he had sent various demand letters. The client asked for a refund and a return of her files. |