Steven Paul Nieto was admitted to the California Bar 23rd June 1978, but has since been disbarred. Steven graduated from Western State University.
Lawyer Information
| Name | Steven Paul Nieto |
|---|---|
| First Admitted | 23 June 1978 (46 years, 10 months ago) |
| Status | Disbarred |
| Bar Number | 80474 |
Contact
| Phone Number | 562-698-7915 |
|---|
Schools
| Law School | Western State University (CA) |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate School | California St University Fullerton (CA) |
Address
| Current Address | 13225 Hadley St Whittier, CA 90601 |
|---|---|
| Map |
History
| 24 November 2011 | Disbarred (13 years, 5 months ago) Disbarment 08-O-14872 |
|---|---|
| 1 July 2011 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (13 years, 10 months ago) Suspended, failed to pay fees |
| 13 June 2011 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (13 years, 10 months ago) Ordered inactive 08-O-14872 |
| 17 March 2011 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (14 years, 1 month ago) Ordered inactive 08-O-14872 |
| 22 September 2010 | Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 10-O-03673 (14 years, 7 months ago) |
| 9 July 2010 | Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 08-O-14872 (14 years, 10 months ago) |
| 9 May 2009 | Discipline, probation; no actual susp. 04-O-13994 (15 years, 12 months ago) |
| 17 July 2008 | Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 04-O-13994 (16 years, 9 months ago) |
| 20 October 2002 | Discipline, probation; no actual susp. 00-O-11960 (22 years, 6 months ago) |
| 29 June 2001 | Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 00-O-11960 (23 years, 10 months ago) |
| 23 June 1978 | Admitted to the State Bar of California (46 years, 10 months ago) |
Discipline Summaries
November 24, 2011 STEVEN PAUL NIETO [#80474], 60, of Whittier was disbarred Nov. 24, 2011, and was ordered to make restitution to four clients and comply with rule 9.20 of the California Rules of Court. In a default proceeding, the State Bar Court found that Nieto committed 24 counts of misconduct in eight matters.In a dissolution matter, for example, he represented the wife and although he filed a petition, his check for filing fees bounced. The case was dismissed because he never paid the filing fee. He did not respond to the client’s many phone calls inquiring about the status of the case.After the client fired him, he did not refund her $1,200 advance fee, release her file or account for her funds. He also failed to communicate with her or cooperate with a bar investigation.Two other clients paid an advance fee of $3,000 for Nieto to represent them in a dispute with a contractor. Although he wrote a letter that he asked the clients to review, they could never ascertain if he actually sent the letter. He did not respond to their emails, account for the advanced fees or provide any services of value.Nieto has two prior discipline records involving similar misconduct and he repeatedly failed to comply with probation conditions.May 9, 2009 STEVEN PAUL NIETO [#80474], 58, of Whittier was suspended for one year, stayed, placed on two years of probation and was ordered to take the MPRE within one year. The order took effect May 9, 2009. Nieto stipulated that he committed misconduct while representing three people who sustained injuries in an automobile accident. The three had potentially conflicting interests.Nieto settled the matter and received three different settlement checks. However, he did not respond to between 15 and 20 phone calls from one client about the status of the case.He stipulated that he failed to communicate with clients or obtain his clients’ written consent to represent each in the same matter.Nieto was disciplined in 2002 for misconduct in two matters, including failing to perform legal services competently, communicate with a client, refund an unearned fee, return client property or pay out client funds.October 20, 2002 STEVEN PAUL NIETO [#80474], 51, of Whittier 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. 20, 2002. Nieto stipulated to misconduct in two matters.He represented a woman and her daughter in personal injury claims on a contingency fee basis, filing a civil action which settled for $3,000 each. He took his fees but did not give the clients their share of the settlement for a year. He allowed the balance in the trust account to fall below the required amount and he did not return the clients' repeated phone calls.He finally paid them after they complained to the bar.In the second matter, Nieto represented a client in removing his former wife's name from the title of some property pursuant to a court order in the client's divorce. The wife's attorney told Nieto she was not responding to his efforts to reach her.Nieto did not file a motion to enforce the court order and took no further steps on his client's behalf. When the client inquired about his case, Nieto's secretary told him Nieto was working on it and the client assumed he had completed the matter. When he learned his wife's name was still on the title, he called Nieto for six months.Nieto did not return the calls, so the client fired him and asked for his file and a refund of his $1,000 advance fee.Nieto stipulated that he failed to perform legal services competently, communicate with a client, refund an unearned fee, return client property or pay out client funds.In mitigation, his father and brother were terminally ill at the time of the misconduct. He has no record of discipline. |