Stephen Robert Fluharty was admitted to the California Bar 29th November 1979, but has since been disbarred. Stephen graduated from UC College of the Law, San Francisco.

Lawyer Information

NameStephen Robert Fluharty
First Admitted29 November 1979 (44 years, 4 months ago)
StatusDisbarred
Bar Number89360

Contact

Phone Number818-246-5821

Schools

Law SchoolUC College of the Law, San Francisco (San Francisco CA)
Undergraduate SchoolOccidental Coll (Los Angeles CA)

Address

Current AddressP O Box 10242
Glendale, CA 91209-3242
Map

History

28 February 2002Disbarred (22 years, 1 month ago)
Disbarment 01-N-02147
22 September 2001Not eligible to practice law in CA (22 years, 6 months ago)
Ordered inactive 01-N-02147
15 September 2001Not eligible to practice law in CA (22 years, 6 months ago)
Ordered inactive 01-N-02147
1 September 2001Not eligible to practice law in CA (22 years, 7 months ago)
Suspended, failed to pay fees
24 July 2001Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 01-N-02147 (22 years, 8 months ago)
25 June 2001Not eligible to practice law in CA (22 years, 9 months ago)
Ordered inactive 00-O-13281
20 April 2001Not eligible to practice law in CA (22 years, 11 months ago)
Discipline w/actual suspension 00-PM-12367
6 April 2001Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 00-O-13281 (22 years, 12 months ago)
5 April 2001Not eligible to practice law in CA (22 years, 12 months ago)
12 September 1996Discipline, probation; no actual susp. 93-O-10144 (27 years, 6 months ago)
15 August 1995Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 93-O-10144 (28 years, 7 months ago)
29 November 1979Admitted to the State Bar of California (44 years, 4 months ago)

Discipline Summaries

February 28, 2002

STEPHEN ROBERT FLUHARTY [89360], 49, of Glendale was disbarred Feb. 28, 2002, and ordered to comply with rule 955. In a default proceeding, the State Bar Court found that Fluharty failed to comply with rule 955, as ordered in a 2001 discipline. In addition to that order, issued because Fluharty did not meet the probation conditions attached to a 1996 discipline order, he was given a stayed suspension and placed on four years of probation for misconduct in three client matters. He failed to promptly respond to status inquiries, promptly return client property, perform legal services competently, maintain client funds in trust, or report sanctions to the bar, and he improperly withdrew from employment.

April 20, 2001

The probation of STEPHEN R. FLUHARTY, [#89360], 47, of Glendale was revoked, he was suspended for 90 days and was ordered to comply with rule 955. The order took effect April 20, 2001.

Fluharty’s probation was revoked after he failed to submit two quarterly reports and two mental health reports as required by a September 1996 disciplinary action.

Fluharty was the subject of a variety of complaints in three client matters. In one, Fluharty was employed by a woman to substitute as her attorney in a medical malpractice action. He failed to pay the required court fees in an appeal and did not ask the client for the funds, which resulted in a dismissal of the appeal.

Fluharty said he had advanced costs throughout the duration of the case, but did not have the funds to pay the appeal fee. He believed his client did not have the funds to pay the fee and did not ask her for them.

September 12, 1996

STEPHEN ROBERT FLUHARTY [#89360] 43, of Glendale was suspended for two years, stayed, and placed on probation for four years, effective Sept. 12, 1996. He was ordered to pass the MPRE and make restitution.

In one matter, Fluharty was employed by a woman to substitute in as her attorney in a medical malpractice action. After representing the client's interests in arbitration and through trial de novo, both of which resulted in decisions for the defendant, Fluharty filed an appeal. He failed to pay the required court fees and did not ask the client for the funds.

Fluharty's failure to pay the court clerk fees resulted in a dismissal of the appeal.

In aggravation, Fluharty's misconduct involved multiple acts of wrongdoing, with a variety of complaints surrounding three different matters.

In mitigation, Fluharty was admitted to the bar in 1979 and has no prior record of discipline.

During the period of his misconduct, he suffered from dysthymia and generalized anxiety disorder, brought on by a series of stress and anxiety-causing events. His illness worsened over time and by 1992, he was unable to work and communicate with his clients.

In the medical malpractice matter, Fluharty said he had advanced costs throughout the duration of the case, but did not have the funds to pay the appeal fee. He believed his client did not have the funds to pay the fee and did not ask her. In addition, the application for in forma pauperis, which he filed on behalf of the client, was denied.

Fluharty has an extensive pro bono background. He has volunteered as a judge pro tem, counseled and advised students at two law schools and undergraduates at a third college, where he also taught alumni courses and leadership seminars to the general public.