Santa Monica, CA 90403
21 June 2012 | Disbarred (12 years, 10 months ago) Disbarment 07-O-13099 |
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15 December 2011 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (13 years, 4 months ago) Ordered inactive 07-O-13099 |
24 October 2011 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (13 years, 6 months ago) Ordered inactive 07-O-13099 |
23 November 2010 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (14 years, 5 months ago) Vol.inactive(tender of resign.w/charges) 10-Q-10620 |
17 November 2010 | Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 07-O-13099 (14 years, 5 months ago) |
26 April 2004 | Active (21 years ago) |
11 February 2004 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (21 years, 2 months ago) Discipline w/actual suspension 02-O-12290 |
8 November 2002 | Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 02-O-12290 (22 years, 6 months ago) |
24 September 2002 | Active (22 years, 7 months ago) |
3 September 2002 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (22 years, 8 months ago) Admin Inactive/MCLE noncompliance |
1 May 1995 | Active (30 years ago) |
1 April 1995 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (30 years, 1 month ago) Actual Suspension Delayed 92-O-14999 |
21 January 1995 | Probation with conditions 92-O-14999 (30 years, 3 months ago) |
2 April 1993 | Active (32 years, 1 month ago) |
2 October 1992 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (32 years, 7 months ago) Discipline w/actual suspension 88-O-14348 |
22 December 1976 | Admitted to the State Bar of California (48 years, 4 months ago) |
June 21, 2012 ANDREW M. ZANGER, 62, of Santa Monica was disbarred June 21, 2012, and was ordered to comply with rule 9.20 of the California Rules of Court. In a default proceeding, the State Bar Court found that Zanger committed eight acts of misconduct in two matters, including failures to perform legal services competently, communicate with clients, obey a court order or cooperate with the bar’s investigation. He also made a misrepresentation to a client and improperly withdrew from employment.In the first matter, he represented a couple who had a dispute with the construction firm that filed a mechanics lien against their property for payment of more than $8,000. The couple claimed they owed half that. The construction firm sued the couple after Zanger did not respond to court documents. Zanger falsely told the couple he was in negotiations with the construction firm’s lawyer to settle the matter prior to the entry of default. His actions amounted to moral turpitude.A default judgment for $54,396.48 was entered against the couple after they unsuccessfully tried to communicate with Zanger. They hired a new lawyer who had the default judgment set aside on the grounds that they mistakenly believed Zanger represented them.In a second case, Zanger abandoned his clients, suing their landlord despite a lease agreement that required mediation prior to court action. The court granted a motion to dismiss in part, and ordered the parties to go to mediation. Zanger never selected a mediator and effectively abandoned his clients, whose case was dismissed.Zanger has been disciplined three times previously — he was suspended and placed on probation in 1992, 1994 and 2004. His misconduct included failures to perform legal services competently, communicate with clients, return client files, account for client funds, refund unearned fees or cooperate with the bar’s investigation, and he improperly withdrew from representation.In recommending Zanger’s disbarment, Judge Donald Miles wrote that he was concerned that Zanger “will continue to harm his clients by repeated acts of misconduct if discipline less than disbarment is ordered. Three prior impositions of discipline did not serve to prevent the most recent multiple instances of misconduct. Worse, he has now apparently concluded that he need not even participate in the disciplinary process.â€February 11, 2004 ANDREW M. ZANGER [#73268], 54, of Santa Monica was suspended for two years, stayed, placed on two years of probation with a 75-day actual suspension and was ordered to take the MPRE within one year. The order took effect Feb.11, 2004. Zanger represented a client who paid $1,500 in advance to handle her divorce. Although he filed a petition for dissolution and served his client’s husband, he took no further action. When the client fired him and hired a new lawyer, he did not reply to the lawyer’s request for a substitution of attorney, a bill and a refund of unearned fees. He eventually refunded the client more than she was owed.He stipulated that he failed to perform legal services competently, render appropriate accounts to a client, promptly refund unearned fees or cooperate with the bar’s investigation.Zanger has been disciplined twice previously, in 1992 and 1995. |