Howard Lawrence Rifkin was admitted to the California Bar 29th November 1978, but has since been disbarred. Howard graduated from San Fernando Valley College of Law.

Lawyer Information

NameHoward Lawrence Rifkin
First Admitted29 November 1978 (46 years, 5 months ago)
StatusDisbarred
Bar Number82671

Contact

Current Email[email protected]
Phone Number760-240-0974
Fax Number760-240-0974

Schools

Law SchoolSan Fernando Valley College of Law (Woodland Hills CA)
Undergraduate SchoolWilkes Coll (Wilkes Barre PA)

Address

Current AddressLaw Ofc Howard L Rifkin, 9618 Deep Creek Rd Ste A
Apple Valley, CA 92308
Map

History

1 August 2010Disbarred (14 years, 9 months ago)
Disbarment 09-N-11616
27 May 2010Not eligible to practice law in CA (14 years, 11 months ago)
Discipline w/actual suspension 07-O-13100
17 December 2009Not eligible to practice law in CA (15 years, 4 months ago)
Discipline w/actual suspension 07-O-13100
7 December 2009Not eligible to practice law in CA (15 years, 4 months ago)
Ordered inactive 09-N-11616
19 September 2009Not eligible to practice law in CA (15 years, 7 months ago)
Ordered inactive 09-N-11616
29 May 2009Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 09-N-11616 (15 years, 11 months ago)
15 March 2009Not eligible to practice law in CA (16 years, 1 month ago)
Ordered inactive 07-O-13100
9 January 2009Not eligible to practice law in CA (16 years, 3 months ago)
Discipline w/actual suspension 06-O-14390
20 April 2008Not eligible to practice law in CA (17 years ago)
Ordered inactive 06-O-14390
26 November 2007Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 06-O-14390 (17 years, 5 months ago)
15 April 1991Active (34 years ago)
16 March 1991Not eligible to practice law in CA (34 years, 1 month ago)
Discipline w/actual suspension 88-O-12948
7 November 1989Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 88-O-12948 (35 years, 6 months ago)
29 November 1978Admitted to the State Bar of California (46 years, 5 months ago)

Discipline Summaries

August 1, 2010

HOWARD LAWRENCE RIFKIN [#82671], 59, of Apple Valley was disbarred Aug. 1, 2010, and was ordered to comply with rule 9.20 of the California Rules of Court.

Rifkin did not comply with rule 9.20, as required by probation requirements attached to a 2008 disciplinary order and he did not submit to the State Bar Court an affidavit stating that he notified his clients, opposing counsel and other interested parties of his suspension. Failure to comply with rule 9.20 is grounds for disbarment.

Rifkin, who did not participate in the disbarment proceedings, has been disciplined three times previously for misconduct that included failures to perform services competently, communicate with clients or cooperate with the bar’s investigation, and he made false representations to a client and improperly withdrew from representation.

January 9, 2009

HOWARD L. RIFKIN [#82671], 58, of Apple Valley was suspended for one year, stayed, actually suspended for six months and until the State Bar Court grants a motion to terminate the suspension and he was ordered to take the MPRE and comply with rule 9.20. If the actual suspension exceeds two years, he must prove his rehabilitation. The order took effect Jan. 9, 2009.

In a default proceeding, the bar court found that Rifkin committed three acts of misconduct in two workers’ compensation matters. He accepted a $30,000 settlement offer from one defendant, a hospital, but did no further work. He did not respond to numerous letters, e-mails and phone calls from the hospital attorney, who finally complained to the bar. Rifkin told the bar he was waiting for final approval of the settlement and said he would contact the client with an update. He never did so.

The petition ultimately was dismissed and the client hired a new lawyer.

The bar court found that Rifkin failed to perform legal services competently, communicate with his client or cooperate with the bar’s investigation.

Rifkin was suspended in 1991.