Joseph Edward Sheridan was admitted to the California Bar 20th December 1974, but has since been disbarred. Joseph graduated from Santa Clara University SOL.

Lawyer Information

NameJoseph Edward Sheridan
First Admitted20 December 1974 (49 years, 4 months ago)
StatusDisbarred
Bar Number62759

Contact

Phone Number562-437-6886

Schools

Law SchoolSanta Clara University SOL (Santa Clara CA)
Undergraduate SchoolSt Mary's Coll (Moraga CA)

Address

Current Address200 Oceangate #400
Long Beach, CA 90802
Map

History

4 March 2004Disbarred (20 years, 1 month ago)
Disbarment 02-O-16029
11 October 2003Not eligible to practice law in CA (20 years, 6 months ago)
Ordered inactive 02-O-16029
4 July 2003Not eligible to practice law in CA (20 years, 10 months ago)
Ordered inactive 02-O-16029
17 April 2003Not eligible to practice law in CA (21 years ago)
Discipline w/actual suspension 02-N-11325
7 April 2003Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 02-O-16029 (21 years ago)
19 August 2002Active (21 years, 8 months ago)
20 May 2002Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 02-N-11325 (21 years, 11 months ago)
16 January 2002Not eligible to practice law in CA (22 years, 3 months ago)
Discipline w/actual suspension 00-O-11315
6 February 2001Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 00-O-11315 (23 years, 2 months ago)
4 February 1999Active (25 years, 2 months ago)
16 December 1998Not eligible to practice law in CA (25 years, 4 months ago)
Discipline w/actual suspension 96-O-06986
15 January 1998Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 96-O-06986 (26 years, 3 months ago)
31 January 1996Active (28 years, 3 months ago)
31 December 1995Not eligible to practice law in CA (28 years, 4 months ago)
Suspended, failed to pass Prof.Resp.Exam 92-O-16897
2 December 1994Discipline, probation; no actual susp. 92-O-16897 (29 years, 5 months ago)
17 May 1994Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 93-O-11851 (29 years, 11 months ago)
8 October 1993Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 92-O-16897 (30 years, 6 months ago)
20 December 1974Admitted to the State Bar of California (49 years, 4 months ago)

Discipline Summaries

March 4, 2004

JOSEPH EDWARD SHERIDAN [#62759], 54, of Long Beach was disbarred March 4, 2004, and ordered to comply with rule 955.

In his fifth discipline in 10 years, the State Bar Court found Sheridan committed misconduct in two matters. He never filed immigrant visa petitions for his

client’s wife and children, although he told the client he had done so. The client eventually prepared and filed the petitions himself.

Sheridan did not refund the advance $750 fee or respond to a bar investigator’s inquiries.

In a second matter, the court found that he violated probation requirements from a 2001 discipline order. He did not complete ethics school, submit quarterly probation reports or provide evidence of compliance with mental health requirements.

The bar court concluded Sheridan violated a court order, failed to perform legal services competently, abandoned his client and committed an act of moral turpitude by telling his client the visa petitions had been filed.

In recommending Sheridan’s disbarment, Judge Richard A. Honn wrote, Sheridan “has engaged in a continuous course of misconduct since 1991.”

April 17, 2003

JOSEPH EDWARD SHERIDAN [#62759], 53, of Long Beach was suspended for 150 days and was ordered to comply with rule 955. The order took effect April 17, 2003.

Sheridan failed to comply with a rule 955 order by not submitting to the Supreme Court an affidavit stating he notified his client, opposing counsel and other interested parties of his 2001 suspension from practice.

He has been disciplined three times: in 1994 for misconduct in five client matters, in 1998 for his actions in two matters and in 2001 for misconduct in two matters. His wrongdoing included failing to perform with competence, communicate with clients, return client files or cooperate with the bar’s investigation.

In mitigation, he was suffering from extreme stress and tension as a result of family health problems, the impending breakup of his marriage and a change of careers.

January 16, 2002

JOSEPH E. SHERIDAN [62759], 52, of Long Beach was suspended for one year, stayed, placed on two years of probation with a 120-day actual suspension and was ordered to make restitution, take the MPRE and comply with rule 955. If the actual suspension exceeds two years, he must prove his rehabilitation. The order took effect Jan. 16, 2002. Sheridan was retained to apply to the INS for permanent resident visas for a client's fiancee and daughter. After marrying his fiancee in China, the client returned to the U.S., gave Sheridan various documents as requested, and paid him $720 to prepare immigrant visa petitions. Sheridan filed the petitions in December 1999. During the next two months, the client repeatedly requested copies of the petitions, to no avail. When Sheridan followed up on the petitions, he learned the INS could not find them so he submitted a second set. The client terminated the representation, and although Sheridan felt he completed the work and earned the fee, he agreed to refund $500 to his client. The client demanded the full fee unless Sheridan could provide copies of the immigrant petitions. He could not provide proof of filing with the INS, so the client hired a new attorney to file new petitions. In the second immigration matter, Sheridan completed the work but cancelled and rescheduled many appointments with his clients and also did not return their phone calls. They eventually hired a new lawyer. Sheridan stipulated that he failed to perform legal services competently, did not communicate with clients and did not cooperate with the bar's investigation. Sheridan also was disciplined in 1994 and 1998 for failure to perform competently, communicate with clients or cooperate with a bar investigation. In mitigation, he had emotional or physical difficulties at the time of his misconduct, as well as family problems.