James J. Murray was admitted to the California Bar 18th December 1975, but has since been disbarred. James graduated from Santa Clara University SOL.
Lawyer Information
| Name | James J. Murray |
|---|---|
| First Admitted | 18 December 1975 (49 years, 6 months ago) |
| Status | Disbarred |
| Bar Number | 66952 |
Contact
| Current Email | [email protected] |
|---|---|
| Phone Number | 510-936-1534 |
| Fax Number | 800-741-1976 |
Schools
| Law School | Santa Clara University SOL (Santa Clara CA) |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate School | San Jose State University (San Jose CA) |
Address
| Current Address | 8605 Santa Monica Blvd Pmb, 55413 West Hollywood, CA 90069-4109 |
|---|---|
| Map | |
| Previous Address | 130 Fieldgate Ct Roswell, GA 30075 |
| Previous Address | C/O Zavieh Law 130 Fieldgate Ct Roswell, GA 30075-6925 |
| Previous Address | C/O Zavieh Law 12460 Crabapple Rd., Suite 202-272 Alpharetta, GA 30004 |
| Previous Address | C/O Zavieh Law, 12460 Crabapple Rd.,, Suite 202-272 Alpharetta, GA 30004 |
History
| 13 March 2014 | Disbarred (11 years, 3 months ago) Disbarment 10-O-10873 |
|---|---|
| 30 September 2013 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (11 years, 8 months ago) Ordered inactive 10-O-10873 |
| 7 March 2013 | Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 10-O-10873 (12 years, 3 months ago) |
| 25 June 2012 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (12 years, 11 months ago) Suspended, failed to pass Prof.Resp.Exam 05-O-03820 |
| 27 September 2011 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (13 years, 8 months ago) Vol.inactive(tender of resign.w/charges) 11-Q-16726 |
| 14 May 2011 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (14 years, 1 month ago) Discipline w/actual suspension 10-O-03545 |
| 29 April 2011 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (14 years, 1 month ago) Discipline w/actual suspension 05-O-03820 |
| 1 February 2011 | Inactive (14 years, 4 months ago) |
| 18 December 1975 | Admitted to the State Bar of California (49 years, 6 months ago) |
Discipline Summaries
March 13, 2014 JAMES J. MURRAY [#66952], 68, of Roswell Ga. was disbarred March 13, 2014 and ordered to comply with rule 9.20 of the California Rules of Court and pay restitution. The State Bar Court found Murray culpable of five counts of misconduct in two client matters including failing to promptly return client funds and a client file, failing to maintain client funds in his client trust account, misappropriating client funds and failing to render an accounting. Murray also failed to meet a deadline for providing proof he complied with rule 9.20 in connection with an earlier disciplinary order.In one of the client matters, Murray was hired in 2010 to represent a man in a purchase of a mobile home. In addition to paying him $3,000 in attorney fees, the client entrusted Murray with $1,000 that was supposed to be used for payment of taxes and other expenses. But Murray did not make any payments on the client’s behalf, allowing the balance to dip to $101.71, and didn’t return the money until eight months after the client fired him. Murray only paid his former client back after the State Bar contacted his attorney repeatedly about the issue, his former client sued and the day of their small claims court trial arrived.In the other matter, Murray failed to return a client’s file after the client and her new attorney repeatedly asked for it, from Oct. 26, 2010 to Jan. 18, 2011. He also did not provide an accounting to the client for $4,000 he received as attorney fees.Murray has three prior records of discipline. In 1984, he received a private reproval for failing to communicate directly with four clients and being inattentive to their needs. He also failed to provide one client with an accounting or promptly pay funds to that client. In 2011, he received a one-year actual suspension after being terminated from the Alternative Discipline Program for not complying with its requirements. Murray had stipulated to misconduct in two client matters: improperly withdrawing from employment and failing to perform services competently, communicate, provide an accounting, promptly refund an unearned fee or cooperate with the State Bar.Murray was suspended for another six months in 2011 after stipulating to misconduct in two matters including failing to communicate, release a client file or refund unearned fees.May 14, 2011 JAMES J. MURRAY [#66952], 65, of Fremont was suspended for two years, stayed, and placed on three years of probation with a six-month actual suspension that ran consecutively to another suspension. The order took effect May 14, 2011. He also received a one-year actual suspension April 29, 2011, and was ordered to comply with rule 9.20 of the California Rules of Court and take the MPRE within one year. In the April matter, Murray stipulated to 10 acts of misconduct in two matters. He was hired by a woman who had terminal cancer to help with estate planning. He cancelled an appointment when he was to have drafts of a will and trust and he did not prepare an urgently needed health care power of attorney. Despite his promises, he did not provide the client with estate planning documents, he cancelled appointments and he did not respond to messages. The client fired him and asked for a refund of her advance $2,200 fee.Murray stipulated that he failed to perform legal services competently, communicate with his client, refund unearned fees, account for client funds or cooperate with the bar’s investigation, and he took no steps to protect his client’s interests when his employment ended.In a second matter, he represented a client who was sued by an individual who claimed he owned a share of the client’s property. The client told Murray she intended to develop the property and needed clear title. The court awarded Murray $2,500 in attorney fees from the plaintiff, but the check bounced. He didn’t take steps to recover the money, although his client instructed him to do so.The plaintiff hired a new lawyer, but Murray didn’t respond to discovery, nor did he tell his client her deposition was scheduled. The client, who ultimately fired Murray, paid $15,000 in fees.He stipulated that he did not account for the client’s funds, keep the client informed of developments in her case or perform legal services competently.In the May disciplinary case, Murray stipulated to four counts of misconduct in two matters. He did not return two client files for two and five months respectively, refund unearned fees or cooperate with the bar’s investigation.In mitigation, Murray participated in the Lawyer Assistance Program, showed remorse, and had multiple medical issues he has since resolved. He was privately reproved in 1984.April 29, 2011 JAMES J. MURRAY [#66952], 66, of Fremont was suspended for one year, stayed, placed on two years of probation with an actual one-year suspension, and he was ordered to take the MPRE within one year and comply with rule 9.20 of the California Rules of Court. The order took effect April 29, 2011. After demonstrating a connection between his mental health issues and his misconduct, Murray was accepted in 2007 in the State Bar’s Alternative Discipline Program. However, he was terminated from the program last year for not complying with the requirements of the Lawyer Assistance Program.Murray had stipulated to misconduct in two matters. In the first, he failed to perform legal services competently, inform a client of significant developments in his matter or account for client funds. In the second case, he admitted he failed to perform legal services competently, communicate with his client, refund an unearned fee, account for client funds, cooperate with the bar’s investigation or take steps to protect his client after his employment ended. In another case that took effect May 15, Murray was given an additional six-month suspension, to run concurrent with the suspension in the other matter, and was placed on three years of probation. He stipulated to four acts of misconduct in two matters. He was hired to set aside a default judgment but when the client fired him, he didn’t return the file for more than two months. He also was fired by a client who hired him to handle a real property dispute, but didn’t return the file or refund an advanced fee.In mitigation, he cooperated with the bar’s investigation, demonstrated remorse and had serious medical problems from which he has since recovered. |