Stephen Leslie Wheeler was admitted to the California Bar 23rd December 1966, but is now resigned. Stephen graduated from UC Hastings COL.
Lawyer Information
| Name | Stephen Leslie Wheeler |
|---|---|
| First Admitted | 23 December 1966 (58 years, 5 months ago) |
| Status | Resigned |
| Bar Number | 39466 |
Contact
| Phone Number | 951-694-3903 |
|---|
Schools
| Law School | UC Hastings COL (San Francisco CA) |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate School | Occidental Coll (Los Angeles CA) |
Address
| Current Address | P O Box 2467 Temecula, CA 92593-2467 |
|---|---|
| Map |
History
| 6 June 2001 | Resigned (23 years, 11 months ago) Resignation with charges pending 01-Q-01373 |
|---|---|
| 19 April 2001 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (24 years ago) Vol.inactive(tender of resign.w/charges) 01-Q-01373 |
| 7 September 2000 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (24 years, 8 months ago) Discipline w/actual suspension 97-O-16923 |
| 6 January 2000 | Active (25 years, 4 months ago) |
| 31 December 1999 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (25 years, 4 months ago) Ordered inactive 99-O-11515 |
| 13 December 1999 | Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 99-O-13033 (25 years, 5 months ago) |
| 3 September 1999 | Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 99-O-11515 (25 years, 8 months ago) |
| 23 November 1998 | Active (26 years, 5 months ago) |
| 25 April 1998 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (27 years ago) Discipline w/actual suspension 96-O-05279 |
| 15 December 1997 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (27 years, 5 months ago) Suspended, failed to pass Prof.Resp.Exam 93-O-17556 |
| 12 May 1997 | Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 97-O-12208 (28 years ago) |
| 20 January 1997 | Active (28 years, 3 months ago) |
| 13 December 1996 | Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 96-O-05279 (28 years, 5 months ago) |
| 21 November 1996 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (28 years, 5 months ago) Discipline w/actual suspension 93-O-17556 |
| 22 February 1995 | Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 93-O-17556 (30 years, 2 months ago) |
| 17 December 1994 | Discipline, probation; no actual susp. 93-H-18626 (30 years, 5 months ago) |
| 27 December 1993 | Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 93-H-18626 (31 years, 4 months ago) |
| 17 September 1992 | Public reproval with/duties 91-O-06664 (32 years, 8 months ago) |
| 19 February 1992 | Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 91-O-06664 (33 years, 3 months ago) |
| 23 December 1966 | Admitted to the State Bar of California (58 years, 5 months ago) |
Discipline Summaries
September 7, 2000 STEPHEN LESLIE WHEELER [#39466], 59, of Fallbrook was suspended for five years, stayed, placed on five years of probation with a two-year actual suspension, and was ordered to make restitution and pay sanctions, prove his rehabilitation, develop a law office management plan and comply with rule 955. The order took effect Sept. 7, 2000. Wheeler stipulated to misconduct in four cases, two involving failure to comply with conditions attached to previous disciplinary orders in 1996 and 1998. In those matters, he did not submit nine quarterly probation reports, enroll in the bar’s law office management section or submit a management plan, pass the MPRE, attend ethics school or record-keeping school, or take required MCLE classes.He also owes restitution exceeding $90,000 to three parties.Wheeler failed to perform legal services competently in a civil matter which was dismissed when he failed to make two appearances or abide by a court order. He did not tell the client the case was dismissed or that sanctions were imposed on the client. In a second case he handled for the same client, he failed to communicate.He did not cooperate with the bar’s investigation of either matter.Wheeler also practiced law while suspended for failing to take the MPRE in conjunction with a disciplinary order.He has a record of four disciplines, extending back to 1992.April 25, 1998 STEPHEN LESLIE WHEELER [#39466], 56, of Fallbrook was suspended for one year, stayed, placed on two years of probation with a 30-day actual suspension, and was ordered to take the MPRE within one year. The order took effect April 25, 1998. In 1993, Wheeler represented a client in a foreclosure case in which an arbitrator ruled against her. The client filed a malpractice suit against Wheeler and her new attorney made numerous requests that Wheeler return the client file. He produced a partial file but only produced all the documents after the new attorney won a motion for sanctions. Wheeler stipulated that he failed to return client files promptly and that he failed to perform legal services by not promptly returning client papers. He also did not pay sanctions within the required 10 days. Wheeler has a record of three prior disciplinary matters. He was disciplined in 1996, but failed to comply with probation conditions: he did not submit two quarterly reports, two reports from a CPA, or a law office management plan, and he did not maintain membership in the bar's law practice management section. The 1996 discipline was the result of failing to perform legal services competently and failing to respond to one client's case status inquiries. Wheeler was publicly reproved in 1992 and disciplined in 1994 for not complying with the conditions of the reproval.November 21, 1996 STEPHEN LESLIE WHEELER [#39466], 55, of Fallbrook was suspended for two years, stayed, and placed on probation for three years with 60 days actual suspension, effective Nov. 21, 1996. He was ordered to pass the MPRE. In several client matters, Wheeler failed to perform legal services competently. He also failed to respond to one client's case status inquiries.In one instance, Wheeler was consulted by a woman regarding the safe-keeping of a $71,000 inheritance. The woman's husband had a business relationship with Wheeler.Wheeler advised the woman to deposit her funds into a corporation he owned. At the time, he agreed with the woman that no monies would be disbursed without her authorization. However, at the request of the woman's husband and without her consent, several thousands of dollars in checks were issued to another corporation over the period of a year.When the woman discovered that her account had been tapped without her knowledge, she demanded that Wheeler reimburse her for the funds withdrawn by her husband. She hired another attorney and a settlement for recovery of the funds was reached, but Wheeler failed meet the deadline.In aggravation, Wheeler has a prior record of discipline. In 1992, he received a public reproval for failing to prosecute a civil suit, communicate with his client and cooperate with the bar's investigation. In 1994, he was again disciplined for failing to comply with conditions of the public reproval.Wheeler stipulated that his misconduct harmed his clients. He failed to return $71,000 in funds he was holding for the wife of his business friend and neglected to return advanced legal fees or repay another couple for unnecessary legal fees incurred.In mitigation, Wheeler had a good faith belief that the funds belonging to his friend's wife were being disbursed with her knowledge and consent. The majority of the funds which were disbursed were for the benefit of his client or her family, including home mortgage payments, utility bills and tax bills. About $24,000 of the funds benefited a real estate venture of the woman's husband.In several other client matters, Wheeler substituted attorneys in sufficient time for the cases to be pursued, with the exception of one. |