San Francisco, CA 94105-3306
19 November 2004 | Active (19 years, 5 months ago) |
---|---|
5 September 1996 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (27 years, 7 months ago) Discipline w/actual suspension 95-N-13024 |
10 February 1996 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (28 years, 2 months ago) Discipline w/actual suspension 94-O-12837 |
16 June 1995 | Active (28 years, 10 months ago) |
30 May 1995 | Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 95-N-13024 (28 years, 11 months ago) |
31 March 1995 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (29 years ago) Discipline w/actual suspension 94-PM-16019 |
1 February 1995 | Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 94-O-13015 (29 years, 2 months ago) |
16 December 1994 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (29 years, 4 months ago) Ordered inactive 94-PM-16019 |
1 December 1994 | Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 94-O-12837 (29 years, 4 months ago) |
29 April 1994 | Discipline, probation; no actual susp. 92-O-10553 (29 years, 12 months ago) |
13 September 1993 | Active (30 years, 7 months ago) |
19 July 1993 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (30 years, 9 months ago) Admin Inactive/MCLE noncompliance |
15 December 1992 | Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 92-O-10553 (31 years, 4 months ago) |
24 June 1976 | Admitted to the State Bar of California (47 years, 10 months ago) |
September 5, 1996 TITO A. TORRES [#69478], 50, of Sausalito was suspended for five years, stayed, effective Sept. 5, 1996. He also was placed on probation for five years, with three years actual suspension and until he has shown proof of his fitness to practice law. The period of his actual suspension began retroactively on Feb. 10, 1996. Torres' misconduct involved his failure to timely file an affidavit in compliance with rule 955, a requirement of a 1995 discipline order. He also failed to perform legal services for a client and communicate with him about his case.The client hired Torres to handle his civil rights lawsuit against the city and county of San Francisco in 1989. Torres failed to keep his client notified of pertinent developments in the case, moved his law office without informing the client and sporadically returned his telephone calls.After a series of events, including an expiration in the statute of limitations, the client's case was dismissed.In aggravation, Torres has a prior record of discipline. In 1994, he received a six-month stayed suspension for failure to perform legal services competently and failure to report court sanctions. In 1995, he was suspended for six months for violating his probation. On February 10, he was suspended for two years for the unauthorized practice of law and failure to report court sanctions, perform legal services, communicate and maintain his current address with the bar's membership department.As a result of his current misconduct, his client lost his cause of action. He also failed to take steps to vacate the dismissal of his client's case, despite repeated promises to do so.In mitigation, Torres suffered extreme emotional difficulties during the period of his misconduct and is currently engaged in a psychotherapy treatment program.February 10, 1996 TITO ANTHONY TORRES [#69478], 44, of Sausalito was suspended for two years and until he provides proof of his rehabilitation and fitness to practice law. He was ordered to comply with Rule 955. The order took effect Feb. 10, 1996. In one instance, Torres was placed on administrative inactive status from July 19-Sept. 13, 1993, for failing to comply with MCLE requirements. During this period, while on inactive status, he associated in as attorney of record for two brothers in a criminal matter on appeal. He appeared twice in court on discovery motions and conducted discovery on behalf of his clients with the district attorney, without advising that he was ineligible to practice law. In another instance, Torres requested a rescheduling of sentencing for a client in a criminal matter in 1994, but failed to appear. The hearing was again rescheduled, but that morning Torres telephoned the court to say he would be late. In court, he explained that he was late due to child care problems and had missed the previous appearance due to a heavy workload. The court assessed him $1,000 in sanctions, which he failed to report to the State Bar. He failed to respond to letters sent by bar investigators and did not keep his address current with the bar's membership office. In a third instance, he failed to perform legal services competently, neglected to keep a client reasonably informed of significant developments in a civil action and did not respond promptly to the client's case status inquiries. Torres has a record of two prior disciplinary matters. |