Robert Michael Williams was first admitted to the California Bar 23rd June 1976, but is now no longer eligible to practice. Robert graduated from Humphrey's Coll SOL.
Lawyer Information
| Name | Robert Michael Williams |
|---|---|
| First Admitted | 23 June 1976 (47 years, 10 months ago) |
| Status | Not Eligible to Practice |
| Bar Number | 69540 |
Contact
| Current Email | [email protected] |
|---|---|
| Phone Number | 209-931-2980 |
Schools
| Law School | Humphrey's Coll SOL (Stockton CA) |
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| Undergraduate School | University of the Pacific (Stockton CA) |
Address
| Current Address | 5222 Hickory Ave Stockton, CA 95212-2402 |
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| Map |
History
| 17 October 2011 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (12 years, 6 months ago) Suspended, failed to pass Prof.Resp.Exam 06-O-14164 |
|---|---|
| 1 July 2011 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (12 years, 9 months ago) Admin Inactive/MCLE noncompliance |
| 1 September 2010 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (13 years, 7 months ago) Suspended, failed to pay fees |
| 5 March 2010 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (14 years, 1 month ago) Discipline w/actual suspension 06-O-14164 |
| 30 November 2006 | Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 06-O-14164 (17 years, 4 months ago) |
| 12 November 2006 | Active (17 years, 5 months ago) |
| 13 October 2006 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (17 years, 6 months ago) Discipline w/actual suspension 05-O-01836 |
| 28 October 2005 | Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 05-O-01836 (18 years, 5 months ago) |
| 11 July 2005 | Active (18 years, 9 months ago) |
| 11 June 2005 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (18 years, 10 months ago) Discipline w/actual suspension 02-O-11121 |
| 17 April 2005 | Active (19 years ago) |
| 18 March 2005 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (19 years, 1 month ago) Discipline w/actual suspension 99-O-13604 |
| 5 March 2003 | Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 02-O-11121 (21 years, 1 month ago) |
| 16 January 2002 | Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 99-O-13604 (22 years, 3 months ago) |
| 3 November 1995 | Discipline, probation; no actual susp. 92-O-11297 (28 years, 5 months ago) |
| 10 August 1995 | Active (28 years, 8 months ago) |
| 31 July 1995 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (28 years, 9 months ago) Suspended, failed to pay fees |
| 14 October 1994 | Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 93-O-14926 (29 years, 6 months ago) |
| 24 August 1994 | Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 93-O-17444 (29 years, 8 months ago) |
| 23 June 1994 | Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 92-O-11297 (29 years, 10 months ago) |
| 3 August 1993 | Active (30 years, 8 months ago) |
| 19 July 1993 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (30 years, 9 months ago) Admin Inactive/MCLE noncompliance |
| 21 August 1991 | Active (32 years, 8 months ago) |
| 12 August 1991 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (32 years, 8 months ago) Suspended, failed to pay fees |
| 31 July 1989 | Active (34 years, 9 months ago) |
| 24 July 1989 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (34 years, 9 months ago) Suspended, failed to pay fees |
| 23 June 1976 | Admitted to the State Bar of California (47 years, 10 months ago) |
Discipline Summaries
March 20, 2010 ROBERT MICHAEL WILLIAMS [#69540], 64, of Stockton was suspended for three years, stayed, placed on three years of probation with an actual 18-month suspension and he was ordered to take the MPRE and comply with rule 9.20 of the California Rules of Court. The order took effect March 20, 2010. The State Bar sought review of a hearing judge’s recommendation that Williams be suspended for 90 days for failing to promptly return $395 in unearned fees. The review panel increased the recommended discipline, citing Williams’ four previous disciplines as well as additional misconduct.Williams was retained to represent a client in a DUI; the client brought his mother to a meeting with Williams and she paid a $395 fee. Within a few days, the client changed his mind about the representation and asked for his money back. Despite Williams’ efforts to ensure that the money was refunded, the check was not issued. The client’s mother called many times but never asked to speak to Williams and his employee did not tell him about the phone calls. The employee testified his did not want to trouble Williams, who was caring for his terminally father at the time. Williams later changed his telephone service provider without giving his old clients his new number and the client finally complained to the bar.When notified of the complaint, Williams apologized, refunded the fee and provided an additional $95 in gift cards.The review department found that he failed to communicate with his client and accepted compensation from a third party, in addition to failing to refund the unearned fee.Williams was first disciplined in 1995 for misconduct in seven matters, was suspended for 30 days in 2005, disciplined again later the same year and in 2006 stipulated that he practiced law while suspended.In mitigation, Williams was caring for his terminally ill father at the time of the misconduct, he did pro bono work, recognized his wrongdoing and he cooperated with the bar’s investigation.Although the State Bar sought Williams’ disbarment, the review department’s three-judge panel opted instead for a lesser punishment. “We acknowledge that Williams’ disciplinary history and current misconduct reflect an ongoing problem with his ability to organize and manage his law office practice,†wrote Judge Judith Epstein. “However, we also recognize that while his earlier misconduct was serious, his current offenses are relatively minor and did not result in significant harm to his client.â€October 13, 2006 ROBERT MICHAEL WILLIAMS [#69540], 60, of Stockton was suspended for three years, stayed, placed on three years of probation with an actual 30-day suspension and was ordered to take the MPRE within one year. The order took effect Oct. 13, 2006. Williams stipulated that he practiced law while suspended in 2005, appearing in court on four separate dates, representing clients in 26 matters.The underlying discipline was the result of Williams’ failure to perform legal services competently or inform his clients about significant developments in their case. He also was disciplined earlier in 2005 and in 1995 for misconduct that included failing to perform legal services competently, notify a client of his receipt of funds, respond to client inquiries, deposit settlement funds into a client trust account or pay a medical provider promptly. He also withdrew from a case without notifying the client and did not prepare an order requested by a judge.June 11, 2005 ROBERT MICHAEL WILLIAMS [#69540], 59, of Stockton was suspended for two years, stayed, placed on two years of probation with an actual 30-day suspension and was ordered to take the MPRE within one year. The order took effect June 11, 2005. The State Bar Court found that Williams failed to perform legal services competently or inform his clients about significant developments in their case.Williams represented a married couple who were defendants in an unlawful detainer action. The couple rented a house in Stockton that was sold, and after they received a 30-day notice to vacate, they stopped paying rent because they were afraid they would lose their last month’s rent and their security deposit.When they hired Williams, they told him they intended to move and did not want to return to Stockton for the trial, but wanted to be represented so they could avoid having a money judgment recorded against them. Williams said he would ask the judge for a time extension to allow the couple to pay any money judgment that might be awarded against them, but said he could not guarantee such an extension.Williams appeared at a hearing and entered into a stipulation that if the couple paid $746 to the landlord within a month no money judgment would be entered against them. He never informed his clients about the agreement, nor did he respond to their numerous inquiries. The landlord ultimately informed the couple that a judgment against them had been recorded.Williams refunded the clients’ $250 advance fee plus $123.28 that he sent because of the entry of judgment as a result of his failure to inform them about the judgment. He recommended that the clients pay the judgment but indicated that if they were unable to do so, they could seek the court’s permission to make monthly payments.Williams has been disciplined twice. In 2003, the bar court found that in two client matters he failed to perform legal services competently, notify a client of his receipt of funds, promptly pay out those funds or respond to client inquiries. The matter is on appeal. In 1995, the bar court found that he committed nine acts of misconduct in seven matters, including four counts of failure to perform.March 18, 2005 ROBERT MICHAEL WILLIAMS [#69540], 59, of Stockton was suspended for two years, stayed, placed on two years of probation with a 30-day actual suspension and was ordered to take the MPRE within a year. The order took effect March 18, 2005. The State Bar Court review department rejected an appeal by Williams and upheld a hearing judge’s findings that he failed to perform legal services competently, notify a client of his receipt of funds and respond to client inquiries.Williams’ misconduct involved two clients.The first hired him to help her secure her interest in her ex-husband’s retirement account. Williams agreed to prepare a Qualified Domestic Relations Order, but because he did not know how, he assigned the task to his secretary, who had taken a QDRO class. The QDRO was returned by the court because it was incomplete; Williams never filed a completed document.Nine months later, the client wrote to Williams, told him she had called his secretary weekly and said it had been a year since she’d spoken to Williams. Several months after that, she told Williams she had serious money problems and inquired about a county retirement plan.Two months later, she asked for a refund of her fee and the return of her file.In the second matter, a personal injury client rejected a settlement offer of $43,000 and insisted on going to trial. Williams explained in detail that the client would be responsible for costs if she did not receive more than the settlement offer at trial. The jury awarded the client $25,000.During the following month, the client called Williams at least 15 times, but he did not speak to her personally. Shortly after he received a settlement check, Williams was in an automobile accident and admitted he did not instruct his office staff to notify the client that he had received a settlement check.The client later fired Williams and learned he had received settlement money. The opposing attorney issued a new check. The record is not clear whether Williams submitted his bill for fees and costs, nor is there any evidence the client paid any fees.Neither the hearing judge nor the review department found any mitigation.Williams was disciplined in 1995 for misconduct in seven client matters, including failure to perform legal services competently, deposit client funds in a trust account, promptly pay out client funds, communicate with a client, maintain respect for the courts or cooperate with the bar’s investigation, and he withdrew from representation without protecting his client’s interests.November 3, 1995 ROBERT MICHAEL WILLIAMS [#69540], 49, of Stockton was suspended for six months, stayed, placed on two years probation, and was ordered to make restitution and take the CPRE within one year. The order took effect Nov. 3, 1995. Williams stipulated to six instances of misconduct, including failure to communicate with clients, perform competently, deposit settlement funds into a client trust account or pay a medical provider promptly. He also withdrew from a case without notifying the client and did not prepare an order requested by a judge. Williams said his misconduct was a result of office management problems which he has taken steps to remedy. |