Pasadena, CA 91105-1937
15 September 1996 | Resigned (28 years, 7 months ago) Resignation with charges pending 96-Q-04418 |
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12 August 1996 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (28 years, 8 months ago) Suspended, failed to pay fees |
15 July 1996 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (28 years, 9 months ago) Vol.inactive(tender of resign.w/charges) 96-Q-04418 |
9 June 1996 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (28 years, 11 months ago) Discipline w/actual suspension 92-O-17226 |
7 May 1996 | Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 95-O-15377 (29 years ago) |
4 March 1996 | Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 94-O-10890 (29 years, 2 months ago) |
25 October 1995 | Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 94-O-11693 (29 years, 6 months ago) |
16 June 1995 | Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 93-O-13414 (29 years, 10 months ago) |
19 July 1994 | Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 92-O-17226 (30 years, 9 months ago) |
26 June 1970 | Admitted to the State Bar of California (54 years, 10 months ago) |
June 9, 1996 EARL RICHARD STEEN III [#47167], 51, of Pasadena was suspended for seven years, stayed, and placed on probation for seven years on the condition that he actually be suspended for five years and until he makes restitution. He also must provide proof of his rehabilitation and fitness to practice, pass the MPRE and comply with rule 955. The order took effect June 9, 1996.Steen's misconduct involved multiple acts of misappropriation of client trust funds, commingling, failure to communicate and failure to perform legal services.In several instances, Steen deposited settlement drafts into his client trust account and made payments to clients but neglected to pay medical providers. He also allowed his client trust fund account to fall below the required balance and several times advanced settlement funds to clients before he received them. In one instance, he borrowed $12,000 from a client, but neglected to advise the client to seek independent counsel regarding the transaction. In aggravation, his misconduct involved multiple acts of wrongdoing. In mitigation, he cooperated with the bar's investigation and has been working to make restitution of about $7,000 to all his clients.During the period of his misconduct, Steen experienced serious emotional and financial difficulties due to problems with his extended family. These problems included the abandonment of his disabled mother-in-law by most of her family; assuming legal, financial and emotional responsibility for a teen-age niece and nephew; and coping with a sudden death in the family.In addition, Steen experienced stress in his life resulting from the 1987 adoption of two young "special needs" children.Because of the cumulative effect of these difficulties, he was unable to devote sufficient attention to his active practice.He has been working to straighten out his personal affairs, devote attention to his practice and make restitution to former clients. |