Fresno, CA 93704-1047
8 January 2007 | Active (18 years, 5 months ago) |
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9 December 2006 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (18 years, 6 months ago) Ordered inactive 04-O-10025 |
15 March 2005 | Active (20 years, 3 months ago) |
1 January 2005 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (20 years, 5 months ago) Ordered inactive 04-O-10025 |
18 October 2001 | Discipline, probation; no actual susp. 98-O-03781 (23 years, 8 months ago) |
2 April 2001 | Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 98-O-03781 (24 years, 2 months ago) |
18 December 1975 | Admitted to the State Bar of California (49 years, 6 months ago) |
September 24, 2010 JOHN HAIG MISSIRLIAN [#66885], 60, of Fresno was suspended for one year, stayed, placed on two years of probation with a 30-day actual suspension and was ordered to take the MPRE within one year. The order took effect Sept. 24, 2010. Missirlian successfully completed the Alternative Discipline Program after stipulating to misconduct in three matters ? he failed to perform competently, communicate and promptly return client files. He demonstrated that at the time of the misconduct, he suffered from mental health problems.He did not prepare a living trust for a couple or complete two probate matters.In mitigation, he cooperated with the bar’s investigation, made restitution and participated in the Lawyer Assistance Program. He was disciplined in 2001 for misconduct in two matters.October 18, 2001 JOHN HAIG MISSIRLIAN [#66885], 51, of Fresno was suspended for 90 days, stayed, placed on two years of probation and was ordered to make restitution and take the MPRE within one year. The order took effect Oct. 18, 2001. Missirlian stipulated to misconduct in three matters.He was paid $1,500 by a client to prepare wills and durable powers of attorney. No documents were produced at one scheduled meeting, and at a second meeting, Missirlian offered a power of attorney for the client’s wife to sign, but no wills or powers of attorney. He did no further work.When another attorney working for the client asked for an accounting of the funds the client paid, Missirlian did not respond. He did not refund the unearned fee for one year. He also did not maintain the proper balance in his trust account in order to refund the fee.As a result of his actions, Missirlian reached an agreement in lieu of discipline with the State Bar, but he then failed to comply with the conditions attached to it. He filed no quarterly reports or statements from his treating mental health professional.In a second matter, another couple paid him $1,500 to review documents and provide advice regarding the wife’s eligibility for Medi-Cal. Missirlian then failed to respond to numerous calls from the clients, with the exception of one instance when he said he would provide an assessment of the wife’s position.He did not refund the unearned fees.Missirlian stipulated to two counts of failing to perform legal services competently and one count each of failure to communicate with clients, deposit client funds in a client trust account, promptly pay client funds or refund unearned fees.In mitigation, Missirlian practiced for 26 years without any discipline, expressed remorse, is being treated for Attention Deficit Disorder, which appears to be the cause of his misconduct, and his clients were not harmed. |