Leland Dale Stephenson was admitted to the California Bar 11th January 1966, but has since been disbarred. Leland graduated from Stanford University Law School.

Lawyer Information

NameLeland Dale Stephenson
First Admitted11 January 1966 (59 years, 4 months ago)
StatusDisbarred
Bar Number37713

Schools

Law SchoolStanford University Law School (Stanford CA)
Undergraduate SchoolStanford University (Stanford CA)

Address

Current AddressP O Box 1752
Fresno, CA 93717
Map

History

26 March 2009Disbarred (16 years, 1 month ago)
Disbarment 08-N-11333
20 October 2008Not eligible to practice law in CA (16 years, 6 months ago)
Ordered inactive 08-N-11333
7 May 2008Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 08-N-11333 (16 years, 12 months ago)
15 February 2008Not eligible to practice law in CA (17 years, 2 months ago)
Discipline w/actual suspension 00-O-13808
21 October 2003Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 00-O-13808 (21 years, 6 months ago)
11 January 1966Admitted to the State Bar of California (59 years, 4 months ago)

Discipline Summaries

March 26, 2009

LELAND D. STEPHENSON [#37713], 68, of Fresno was disbarred March 26, 2009, and ordered to comply with rule 9.20.

In a default proceeding, the State Bar Court found that Stephenson failed to comply with rule 9.20 of the California Rules of Court by not providing to the court an affidavit stating that he notified his clients, opposing counsel and other interested parties of his 2008 suspension. Failure to comply with rule 9.20 is grounds for disbarment.

In the underlying discipline, he had stipulated to 13 counts of misconduct in seven matters, including failing to perform legal services, communicate with his clients, refund unearned fees or maintain client funds in a trust account, and he engaged in the unauthorized practice of law and violated a court order.

Noting that Stephenson offered no mitigating evidence, Judge Lucy Armendariz recommended his disbarment. Stephenson’s “unexplained failure to file a rule 9.20(c) compliance affidavit strongly suggests a conscious disregard for both this court’s and the Supreme Court’s efforts to fulfill their respective responsibilities to oversee the practice of law in the State of California,” she wrote.

February 15, 2008

LELAND DALE STEPHENSON [#37713], 67, of Fresno was suspended for two years, stayed, placed on five years of probation with an actual one-year suspension and was ordered to take the MPRE, comply with rule 9.20 and make restitution. The order took effect Feb. 15, 2008.

Stephenson stipulated to 13 counts of misconduct in seven matters, including failing to perform legal services competently, communicate with clients, return unearned fees and files, maintain client funds or obey a court order and he engaged in the unauthorized practice of law.

Although Stephenson was accepted into the State Bar’s alternative discipline program for lawyers with substance abuse or mental health issues, he was terminated because of additional allegations of misconduct. The bar alleged that he violated some conditions of his agreement with the Lawyer Assistance Program and a restitution requirement.

Stephenson reached a stipulation with the bar in 2005.

After doing some work in a civil dispute, he failed to respond to interrogatories, a demand for inspection of documents, a motion for sanctions and a motion for default judgment. He also did not inform his clients that sanctions totaling almost $4,000 were imposed on them or that a default judgment was entered against them. Stephenson eventually had the default set aside, completed discovery and paid the sanctions.

In another case, he did not provide timely responses to multiple discovery requests or to various motions. He was suspended for failing to comply with MCLE requirements but continued to file pleadings and make appearances for clients in two matters. In one of the matters, he also failed to appear at a hearing, delayed payment of more than $18,000 in sanctions and did not communicate with his client.

In mitigation, he had no prior discipline record, cooperated with the bar’s investigation and, beginning in 1999, suffered a series of traumatic events.