John Owen Meyers III was first admitted to the California Bar 18th December 1973, but is now no longer eligible to practice. John graduated from University of San Diego SOL.
Lawyer Information
| Name | John Owen Meyers III |
|---|---|
| First Admitted | 18 December 1973 (50 years, 9 months ago) |
| Status | Not Eligible to Practice |
| Bar Number | 57799 |
Contact
| Phone Number | 714-328-2828 |
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Schools
| Law School | University of San Diego SOL (San Diego CA) |
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| Undergraduate School | San Diego State University (San Diego CA) |
Address
| Current Address | 8690 Aero Dr #115-335 San Diego, CA 92123 |
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| Map |
History
| 1 July 2021 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (3 years, 2 months ago) Admin Inactive/MCLE noncompliance |
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| 25 September 2004 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (20 years ago) Discipline w/actual suspension 04-N-10216 |
| 19 February 2004 | Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 04-N-10216 (20 years, 7 months ago) |
| 31 October 2003 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (20 years, 11 months ago) Discipline w/actual suspension 01-O-03563 |
| 17 August 2001 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (23 years, 1 month ago) Discipline w/actual suspension 98-O-02802 |
| 18 December 1973 | Admitted to the State Bar of California (50 years, 9 months ago) |
Discipline Summaries
September 25, 2004 JOHN OWEN MEYERS III [#57799], 57, of San Diego was suspended for three years, stayed, and was placed on probation for three years with an actual two-year suspension and until he proves his rehabilitation. He was ordered to take the MPRE and comply with rule 955. The order took effect Sept. 25, 2004. Meyers stipulated that he failed to comply with probation conditions imposed in a 2003 stipulation. He filed a rule 955 affidavit that did not conform to the requirements. He did not declare whether he notified all parties of his suspension, returned client files or refunded unearned fees.Meyers has three prior records of discipline. The underlying discipline was imposed for failing to perform legal services competently. He also was disciplined in 2001 and 1997 for misconduct that included failing to deposit client funds in a trust account, promptly pay out client funds, perform legal services competently or communicate with a client and for committing acts of moral turpitude.October 31, 2003 JOHN OWEN MEYERS III [#57799], 56, of Irvine was suspended for three years, stayed, placed on three years of probation with a 150-day actual suspension and was ordered to comply with rule 955. The order took effect Oct. 31, 2003. Meyers stipulated to two counts of misconduct in a business dispute; his client paid $5,000 for Meyers to file a complaint for breach of contract and a motion for preliminary injunction.Meyers filed the complaint and the motion, but he knew or should have known that there was a binding arbitration clause in the agreement between his client and the other party, which he had reviewed.Meyers withdrew the motion for preliminary injunction without informing the client and he did not return more than 30 phone calls from her. The other party filed for arbitration, but he did not submit a brief or any exhibits on behalf of his client. The client never had an opportunity to provide information to Meyers because he never returned her phone calls.The arbitrator ruled in favor of the other party. Although the client asked Meyers to file an opposition, he did not respond.A new lawyer tried to file a request for trial de novo but could not do so because it was too late; Meyers did not tell the client it had to be filed within 30 days of the arbitrator's decision. The court also denied a motion to vacate the arbitration award. It was denied and judgment was entered in favor of the opposing party.Meyers stipulated that he failed to perform legal services competently or communicate with his client.He was disciplined in 2001 and 1997 for misconduct that included failing to deposit client funds in a trust account, promptly pay out client funds, perform legal services competently or communicate with a client and for committing acts of moral turpitude.August 17, 2001 JOHN OWEN MEYERS III [#57799], 54, of Irvine was suspended for three years, stayed, placed on probation for three years with a 20-month actual suspension, and was ordered to take the MPRE, comply with rule 955 and prove his rehabilitation. The order took effect Aug. 17, 2001. Meyers stipulated to misconduct in three cases. In a 1998 matter, he repeatedly issued checks drawn from a client’s trust account when he should have known funds were insufficient.In a 1994 case, he took legal fees for himself and disbursed fees to the law firm which originally handled the case when it settled for $25,000. He should have kept a balance of $16,666 in his client trust account on behalf of the client.Instead, he let the balance fall below the required amount over the next two years, expecting the law firm which originally handled the case to inform him when disbursements needed to be made. He did not return repeated phone calls from the client. After she complained to the State Bar, Meyers paid her the $16,666 plus $1,750 in interest. He stipulated that he misappropriated client funds, an act of moral turpitude.In 1997, he failed to promptly pay a lien due a medical provider on behalf of a client, failed to maintain a proper balance in the client trust account and misappropriated $2,826 of the client’s settlement funds, also an act of moral turpitude.Meyers has a record of discipline. He was privately reproved in 1997 for misconduct in three client matters, including performing incompetently, withdrawing from employment without taking steps to avoid prejudice to the client and failing to communicate with a client.Other aggravating factors included trust violations, causing harm to clients and showing a pattern of misconduct.In mitigation, Meyers cooperated with the investigation, showed remorse and paid restitution. |