John Owen Stansbury was admitted to the California Bar 9th January 1969, but has since been disbarred. John graduated from UC Berkeley SOL.

Lawyer Information

NameJohn Owen Stansbury
First Admitted9 January 1969 (55 years, 4 months ago)
StatusDisbarred
Bar Number43117

Contact

Current Email[email protected]
Phone Number510-451-0944

Schools

Law SchoolUC Berkeley SOL (Berkeley CA)
Undergraduate SchoolUniversity of California Santa Barbara (CA)

Address

Current Address951 Park Ln
Oakland, CA 94610-1122
Map

History

18 October 2001Disbarred (22 years, 6 months ago)
Disbarment 00-N-14234
29 April 2001Not eligible to practice law in CA (23 years ago)
Ordered inactive 00-N-14234
27 January 2001Not eligible to practice law in CA (23 years, 3 months ago)
Ordered inactive 00-N-14234
29 November 2000Not eligible to practice law in CA (23 years, 5 months ago)
Discipline w/actual suspension 99-O-11820
31 October 2000Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 00-N-14234 (23 years, 6 months ago)
17 August 2000Not eligible to practice law in CA (23 years, 8 months ago)
Discipline w/actual suspension 98-H-02633
15 May 2000Not eligible to practice law in CA (23 years, 11 months ago)
Ordered inactive 99-O-11820
28 March 2000Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 99-O-11820 (24 years, 1 month ago)
27 September 1999Not eligible to practice law in CA (24 years, 7 months ago)
Suspended, failed to pay fees
24 June 1999Not eligible to practice law in CA (24 years, 10 months ago)
Ordered inactive 98-H-02633
3 May 1999Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 98-H-02633 (25 years ago)
7 March 1998Public reproval with/duties 96-O-08723 (26 years, 2 months ago)
26 December 1997Not eligible to practice law in CA (26 years, 4 months ago)
Ordered inactive 96-O-08723
6 November 1997Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 96-O-08723 (26 years, 6 months ago)
9 January 1969Admitted to the State Bar of California (55 years, 4 months ago)

Discipline Summaries

October 18, 2001

JOHN OWEN STANSBURY [#43117], 60, of Oakland was disbarred Oct. 18, 2001, and was ordered to comply with rule 955.

In a default proceeding, the bar court found that Stansbury failed to comply with rule 955, as ordered in a 2000 discipline imposed for his failure to perform legal services competently, refund unearned fees, communicate with a client or keep his records current with the State Bar.

He also was publicly reproved in 1998 for failing to refund unearned fees.

In recommending Stansbury’s disbarment, Judge Joanne Remke said he “has demonstrated an unwillingness to comply with the professional obligations and rules of court imposed on California attorneys even though he has been given several opportunities to do so.”

November 29, 2000

JOHN OWEN STANSBURY [#43117], 59, of Oakland was suspended for three years, stayed, actually suspended for one year and was ordered to make restitution, attend ethics school, take the MPRE and comply with rule 955. The order took effect Nov. 29, 2000.

In a divorce matter, for which he was paid $1,600, Stansbury failed to complete a petition of dissolution for his client, failed to notify her that he transferred her file to another attorney, did not advise her of his new address and telephone number and did not refund legal fees. He also failed to keep a current address on file with the State Bar.

In July 1997, Stansbury filed a petition for dissolution of marriage on his client’s behalf in superior court. The petition failed to list all necessary information, including a list of the community assets. In September 1997, Stansbury told his client over the phone that he had resolved all the matters concerning the divorce and he would file the proper papers. That month, the client moved out of the country.

The issue was unresolved through 1998, with the client calling or writing Stansbury repeatedly regarding the status of the dissolution. In January 1998, Stansbury assured the client that he had resolved all matters regarding the divorce and would be filing the proper papers. The client emphasized repeatedly that her work permit was contingent on Stansbury finalizing the divorce, but he did not respond to her requests for a status report.

In November 1998, the client learned that Stansbury left his law practice to work with a foundation. She contacted him and was informed that her file had been transferred to another attorney who took over the law practice. Stansbury assured her that the divorce would be final at the end of the month and told her the same thing three months later. She finally fired him in a March 1999 letter, to which he did not respond. The client hired a new attorney who finalized her divorce.

Stansbury has a prior record of discipline for failure to return an unearned fee in 1998, for which he was suspended for 90 days.

August 17, 2000

JOHN OWEN STANSBURY [#43117], 58, of Oakland was suspended for two years, stayed, and placed on actual suspension for 90 days and until he makes restitution, complies with rule 955, attends ethics school and the State Bar Court grants a motion to terminate the actual suspension. If the actual suspension exceeds two years, he must prove his rehabilitation. He also was ordered to take the MPRE. The order took effect Aug. 17, 2000.

In a default proceeding, the State Bar Court found that Stansbury violated the terms of a 1998 public reproval based on his failure to return unearned fees to a client. He also defaulted in the reproval hearing.

He did not make restitution or attend ethics school by the required deadline.