Oakland, CA 94612
19 February 2006 | Resigned (19 years, 2 months ago) Resignation with charges pending 05-Q-05065 |
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6 December 2005 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (19 years, 5 months ago) Vol.inactive(tender of resign.w/charges) 05-Q-05065 |
7 August 2005 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (19 years, 9 months ago) Discipline w/actual suspension 03-O-00774 |
8 October 2004 | Active (20 years, 7 months ago) |
16 September 2004 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (20 years, 7 months ago) Suspended, failed to pay fees |
23 November 1990 | Discipline, probation; no actual susp. 89-H-12481 (34 years, 5 months ago) |
21 August 1989 | Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 89-H-12481 (35 years, 8 months ago) |
27 June 1975 | Admitted to the State Bar of California (49 years, 10 months ago) |
August 7, 2005 JOHN CHITTENDEN CASEY [#63949], 57, of Oakland was suspended for three years, stayed, placed on three years of probation with an actual 18-month suspension and was ordered to take the MPRE, comply with rule 955 and prove his rehabilitation. The order took effect Aug. 7, 2005. A client hired Casey on a contingency fee basis to represent her in a personal injury matter. She had fired an earlier attorney who filed a lien against any recovery. The client settled for $30,000 and the former law firm asked for $310.Casey was entitled to $10,000 and was required to maintain $20,000 in trust until the settlement was paid out on the client’s behalf. However, he misappropriated almost the entire amount by failing to maintain it in trust.He also did not respond to an inquiry from an insurance company that had paid the client’s workers’ comp and disability claims, and requested reimbursement of $10,000. Casey paid after the insurance company complained to the State Bar. He also paid the former law firm’s lien only after the bar investigated.Casey stipulated that he committed acts of moral turpitude by failing to maintain client funds in trust or to maintain what was owed to the client’s insurance company.He was privately reproved in 1988 and in 1990 was disciplined for failing to comply with conditions attached to the reproval. The underlying misconduct involved a failure to properly withdraw in two cases.In mitigation, Casey cooperated with the bar’s investigation. |