Henry James Koehler IV was admitted to the California Bar 2nd June 1972, but has since been disbarred. Henry graduated from University of Michigan Law School.

Lawyer Information

NameHenry James Koehler IV
First Admitted2 June 1972 (52 years, 11 months ago)
StatusDisbarred
Bar Number52539

Contact

Phone Number310-779-4981

Schools

Law SchoolUniversity of Michigan Law School (Ann Arbor MI)
Undergraduate SchoolPrinceton University (Princeton NJ)

Address

Current Address2072 Thornhill Dr
Akron, OH 44313
Map

History

4 March 2011Disbarred (14 years, 2 months ago)
Disbarment 05-O-03263
13 August 2009Not eligible to practice law in CA (15 years, 8 months ago)
Ordered inactive 05-O-03263
4 January 2000Active (25 years, 4 months ago)
4 November 1999Not eligible to practice law in CA (25 years, 6 months ago)
Discipline w/actual suspension 94-O-16928
12 January 1996Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 94-O-16928 (29 years, 3 months ago)
29 January 1993Active (32 years, 3 months ago)
16 May 1992Not eligible to practice law in CA (32 years, 11 months ago)
Discipline w/actual suspension 84-O-16139
27 February 1989Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 84-O-16139 (36 years, 2 months ago)
2 June 1972Admitted to the State Bar of California (52 years, 11 months ago)

Discipline Summaries

November 4, 1999

HENRY J. KOEHLER IV [#52539], 65, of Beverly Hills was suspended for two years, stayed, placed on two years of probation with an actual 60-day suspension and was ordered to take the MPRE within one year. The order took effect Nov. 4, 1999.

A State Bar Court hearing judge found that Koehler improperly withdrew from representation of a client in a family law matter, exonerated him of charges of practicing law while suspended, and recommended a two-year stayed suspension, a 30-day actual suspension and two years of probation.

The bar sought review, urging a one-year suspension and a finding that Koehler improperly practiced law.

The review department upheld the hearing judge’s findings, although it increased the actual suspension to 60 days.

According to the record, Koehler was retained by a client to represent him in a divorce action with a custody dispute. The client agreed to pay $10,000 and attorney’s fees of $250 an hour. When the court ruled against the client, Koehler and the client discussed their options: “run out the clock” by using up the remaining $2,200 in the advance fee, or petition the court of appeal, a task which would take an estimated 20 to 25 hours over a weekend.

The client agreed to the petition, stating he had $30,000 in a pension fund, presumably to pay his legal fees.

The following day, one of Koehler’s assistants called the client and instructed him to come to the office with lunch. When he arrived, he met with two assistants, who told him he must either pay an additional $5,000 or agree to substitute Koehler out of the case. The custody issue was scheduled for six days later, the client did not have the money and he reluctantly signed a substitution relieving Koehler.

His former attorney was unable to represent him at the hearing, which had been planned for one year, so the client represented himself. The client and his spouse ultimately reached a stipulated settlement of the custody issue.

Although Koehler wrote to the client’s former lawyer, provided a status report and suggested he would help with the appeal, the record showed no evidence the petition ever was filed.

The bar court hearing judge found that Koehler abandoned his client without protecting his interests.

Koehler has been disciplined twice previously. In 1976, he was privately reproved for failing to timely perform legal services in four matters, and in 1992, he was suspended for six months for failure to perform legal services in a time-sensitive matter and for improper handling of trust accounts.

In mitigation, several clients attested to Koehler’s good character, and he has performed not-for-profit work for fathers’ rights organizations.