Hacienda Heights, CA 91745-1500
17 November 2001 | Resigned (23 years, 5 months ago) Resignation with charges pending 01-Q-03791 |
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18 October 2001 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (23 years, 6 months ago) Discipline w/actual suspension 01-N-00460 |
27 September 2001 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (23 years, 7 months ago) Vol.inactive(tender of resign.w/charges) 01-Q-03791 |
20 February 2001 | Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 01-N-00460 (24 years, 2 months ago) |
5 November 2000 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (24 years, 6 months ago) Discipline w/actual suspension 97-O-12297 |
11 May 2000 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (24 years, 12 months ago) Discipline w/actual suspension 95-O-10237 |
9 January 1999 | Active (26 years, 3 months ago) |
9 January 1998 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (27 years, 3 months ago) Discipline w/actual suspension 85-O-12550 |
30 December 1997 | Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 95-O-10237 (27 years, 4 months ago) |
7 September 1994 | Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 85-O-12550 (30 years, 8 months ago) |
10 January 1963 | Admitted to the State Bar of California (62 years, 4 months ago) |
October 18, 2001 LAWRENCE CRAWFORD BRAGG [#33302], 69, of Hacienda Heights was suspended for two years, stayed, placed on four years of probation with a six-month actual suspension and was ordered to take the MPRE. The actual suspension is consecutive to another period of actual suspension. The order took effect Oct. 18, 2001. Bragg was disciplined in October 2000 and ordered to comply with rule 955 by notifying all clients and other pertinent parties of his suspension and submitting an affidavit attesting that he had done so to the Supreme Court. He failed to submit the required affidavit.The underlying discipline was the result of his failure to perform with competence, give written disclosure of a personal relationship, pay client funds promptly, or inform a client of significant developments and making misrepresentations to a client. He also failed to comply with a rule 955 order from a previous discipline.He was disciplined earlier in 2000 for splitting legal fees with a non-lawyer, failing to inform clients he was in possession of their funds and failing to cooperate with the bar’s investigation. He also was disciplined in 1997 for splitting fees with a non-lawyer, failing to perform competently, failing to comply with the terms of an agreement in lieu of discipline and for committing an act of moral turpitude.In mitigation, Bragg cooperated with the bar’s investigation and took steps to demonstrate his remorse. He also filed a rule 955 affidavit on time in one of the earlier disciplines.Bragg resigned from the bar Nov. 17, 2001.November 5, 2000 LAWRENCE CRAWFORD BRAGG [#33302], 68, of Hacienda Heights was suspended for four years, stayed, placed on four years of probation with an actual three-year suspension, and was ordered to prove his rehabilitation, make restitution, take the MPRE and comply with rule 955. The order took effect Nov. 5, 2000. Bragg stipulated to misconduct in five consolidated cases.In three matters, Bragg failed to appear at case management conferences, a deposition or hearings on summary judgment, allowing the cases to be dismissed.In two of the cases, he did not notify his clients about the dismissal. He told one client he was attempting to negotiate a settlement. Another client learned about the dismissal of his case when he called Bragg’s office, learned Bragg was suspended and another lawyer had purchased his practice.Bragg stipulated to three instances of failing to perform legal services competently, two counts of failing to communicate with clients and one count of committing an act of moral turpitude.In another case, Bragg represented a party without providing written disclosure of his personal relationship with another person who would be affected by the case.He also did not pay out client funds promptly. Bragg has been disciplined twice. In 1997, he was suspended for sharing legal fees with a non-lawyer, failing to perform legal services competently or comply with the terms of an agreement in lieu of discipline and committing an act of moral turpitude. Last year, he was again suspended for failure to inform clients he was in possession of their funds, failure to cooperate with the bar’s investigation and for two counts of splitting legal fees with a non-lawyer.In mitigation, Bragg cooperated with the bar’s investigation.May 11, 2000 LAWRENCE CRAWFORD BRAGG [#33302], 67, of Hacienda Heights was suspended for two years, stayed, placed on three years of probation with an actual 14-month suspension, and was ordered to make restitution and comply with rule 955. The order took effect May 11, 2000. Bragg stipulated to three counts of misconduct.In two cases, he split fees with nonlawyer employees and did not cooperate with the bar’s investigation when the employees filed complaints about him.In the third matter, Bragg settled a personal injury case for two clients and withheld more than $53,000 to pay their medical care providers. He did not tell the clients he negotiated a reduction in their medical bills totaling nearly $20,000, which he kept.Bragg asserts that he was informed by his staff that the clients had approved his retention of the money as additional fees in exchange for negotiating reduced medical bills. He also claims the staff said one of the clients signed a settlement distribution sheet reflecting the fees.He did not respond to the bar’s investigation of the matter.Bragg also was disciplined in 1998 for sharing fees with a nonlawyer, failing to perform legal services competently in a personal injury case, and engaging in acts of moral turpitude by allowing a nonlawyer to practice law. |