Howard Craig Knadler was admitted to the California Bar 24th January 1979, but has since been disbarred. Howard graduated from Santa Clara University SOL.

Lawyer Information

NameHoward Craig Knadler
First Admitted24 January 1979 (45 years, 3 months ago)
StatusDisbarred
Bar Number85063

Schools

Law SchoolSanta Clara University SOL (Santa Clara CA)
Undergraduate SchoolUniversity of California Santa Barbara (CA)

Address

Current AddressP O Box 912
Colfax, CA 95713
Map

History

30 September 2001Disbarred (22 years, 7 months ago)
Disbarment 98-O-03334
9 June 2001Not eligible to practice law in CA (22 years, 10 months ago)
Discipline w/actual suspension 99-O-10150
16 April 2001Not eligible to practice law in CA (23 years ago)
Ordered inactive 98-O-03334
6 January 2001Not eligible to practice law in CA (23 years, 3 months ago)
Ordered inactive 98-O-03334
15 October 2000Not eligible to practice law in CA (23 years, 6 months ago)
Ordered inactive 00-PM-10801
15 October 2000Not eligible to practice law in CA (23 years, 6 months ago)
Discipline w/actual suspension 00-PM-10801
18 September 2000Not eligible to practice law in CA (23 years, 7 months ago)
Ordered inactive 99-O-10150
1 September 2000Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 98-O-03334 (23 years, 8 months ago)
5 July 2000Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 99-O-10150 (23 years, 9 months ago)
7 April 2000Not eligible to practice law in CA (24 years ago)
Suspended, failed to pass Prof.Resp.Exam 96-O-01770
1 January 2000Inactive (24 years, 4 months ago)
15 March 1999Active (25 years, 1 month ago)
30 December 1998Not eligible to practice law in CA (25 years, 4 months ago)
Discipline w/actual suspension 96-O-01770
13 August 1998Active (25 years, 8 months ago)
14 June 1998Not eligible to practice law in CA (25 years, 10 months ago)
Ordered inactive 96-O-01770
3 February 1998Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 96-O-01770 (26 years, 2 months ago)
13 August 1996Active (27 years, 8 months ago)
12 August 1996Not eligible to practice law in CA (27 years, 8 months ago)
Suspended, failed to pay fees
15 September 1986Active (37 years, 7 months ago)
5 August 1985Not eligible to practice law in CA (38 years, 9 months ago)
Suspended, failed to pay fees
24 January 1979Admitted to the State Bar of California (45 years, 3 months ago)

Discipline Summaries

September 30, 2001

HOWARD C. KNADLER [#85063], 50, of Colfax was disbarred Sept. 30, 2001, and was ordered to comply with rule 955.

In a default proceeding, the State Bar Court found that Knadler repeatedly practiced law while suspended and his misconduct significantly harmed his clients. He also has three prior disciplines.

Knadler stipulated to an actual suspension in 1998 which was to terminate in February 1999. However, he was late in paying his dues, so was not entitled to practice until March 1999.

Knadler began representing a client in a real estate matter prior to being placed on involuntary inactive enrollment and continued to practice although he was not entitled. He filed a complaint and several other motions and made a court appearance on his client’s behalf. When the client fired him and sought a refund and the return of his original documents, Knadler did not respond.

The bar court found he failed to perform legal services competently, refund unearned fees or return a client file, engaged in the unauthorized practice of law and committed acts of moral turpitude.

In a second matter, he continued to represent a client in a trespass action. When the judge handling the matter learned Knadler was suspended, he ordered Knadler to appear at an order to show cause hearing. The client fired him.

He also continued to represent a defendant in a civil case, appearing in court and making motions. When the judge learned Knadler was suspended, he declared a mistrial.

The bar court found in the two latter cases that Knadler practiced while not entitled and committed acts of moral turpitude.

Knadler was first disciplined in 1998 for writing checks against insufficient funds and using his client trust account to pay personal expenses. When he failed to comply with probation conditions attached to that discipline, he was suspended again. The third discipline also involved writing bad checks and commingling personal and client funds in his trust account.

June 6, 2001

HOWARD C. KNADLER [#85063], 49, of Colfax was suspended for four years, stayed, and actually suspended for two years and until the State Bar Court grants a motion to terminate the suspension and he proves his rehabilitation. The order took effect June 6, 2001.

In a default proceeding, the bar court found that Knadler failed to properly maintain his client trust account or hold client funds in a trust account. He wrote 17 checks against insufficient funds over a three-month period.

In addition, the court found he commingled personal and client funds by writing 10 checks on the trust account for personal and business expenses unrelated to any client, including payments to a paralegal for office expenses and body work on his car. He also made 56 deposits totalling more than $29,000 into the account. The money came from personal, family and non-client related business sources, including his mother, his general account and the sale of his crops.

Knadler has two prior disciplines, the first for misusing his client trust account by writing bad checks and checks for personal and non-client business, the second for failing to comply with probation conditions attached to the earlier discipline.