Robert Eaton Dowd was admitted to the California Bar 9th October 1980, but has since been disbarred. Robert graduated from California COL.
Lawyer Information
| Name | Robert Eaton Dowd |
|---|---|
| First Admitted | 9 October 1980 (43 years, 7 months ago) |
| Status | Disbarred |
| Bar Number | 93284 |
Contact
| Current Email | [email protected] |
|---|---|
| Previous Email | [email protected] |
| Phone Number | 661-304-4255 |
Schools
| Law School | California COL (Los Angeles CA) |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate School | Brigham Young University (Provo UT) |
Address
| Current Address | 8520 E Panama Ln Bakersfield, CA 93307-9400 |
|---|---|
| Map | |
| Previous Address | Dowd & Associates 305 S Bliss St Bakersfield, CA 93307 |
History
| 23 March 2013 | Disbarred (11 years, 1 month ago) Disbarment 11-C-14946 |
|---|---|
| 31 August 2012 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (11 years, 8 months ago) Ordered inactive 11-C-14946 |
| 17 April 2012 | Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 12-N-10159 (12 years ago) |
| 18 November 2011 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (12 years, 5 months ago) Discipline w/actual suspension 07-O-11955 |
| 28 July 2011 | Conviction record transmitted to State Bar Court 11-C-14946 (12 years, 9 months ago) |
| 31 July 1998 | Discipline, probation; no actual susp. 96-O-00726 (25 years, 9 months ago) |
| 25 June 1997 | Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 96-O-00726 (26 years, 10 months ago) |
| 12 August 1996 | Active (27 years, 8 months ago) |
| 12 August 1996 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (27 years, 8 months ago) |
| 4 August 1995 | Active (28 years, 9 months ago) |
| 31 July 1995 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (28 years, 9 months ago) Suspended, failed to pay fees |
| 10 August 1992 | Active (31 years, 8 months ago) |
| 10 August 1992 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (31 years, 8 months ago) |
| 9 October 1980 | Admitted to the State Bar of California (43 years, 7 months ago) |
Discipline Summaries
March 23, 2013 ROBERT EATON DOWD [#93284], 68, of Bakersfield, was disbarred March 23, 2013, and was ordered to make restitution and to comply with rule 9.20 of the California Rules of Court. Dowd was disbarred for violating the California Supreme Court’s order that he comply with rule 9.20 in conjunction with his disciplinary suspension in 2011 and for a misdemeanor conviction for resisting arrest.Dowd’s misdemeanor conviction resulted from a 2010 incident involving a sheriff’s deputy and an animal control officer in which Dowd refused to provide identification so he could be served with a citation for failure to provide his dog with proper veterinary care and for violations of vaccination and licensing regulations.Dowd has been disciplined on two prior occasions. In June 1998, the California Supreme Court ordered him suspended for one year, stayed, and placed him on probation for two years after he stipulated to violating 3-110(A) by not performing legal services with competence due to his failure to supervise and employee who was committing criminal acts against clients. Dowd’s violation of rule 9.20 resulted from his suspension for seeking to mislead a judge by having a secretary forge his signature on various documents signed under penalty of perjury. Standard 1.7(b) provides that when an attorney has two prior records of discipline, disbarment is warranted except under the most compelling mitigating circumstances.November 18, 2011 ROBERT EATON DOWD, 67, of Bakersfield was suspended for two years, stayed, placed on two years of probation with an actual 90-day suspension and was ordered to take the MPRE and comply with rule 9.20 of the California Rules of Court. The order took effect Nov. 18, 2011. The State Bar Court’s review department upheld a hearing judge’s finding that Dowd sought to mislead a judge by making a false statement when he authorized his office assistant to simulate his signature on pleadings. The review panel also considered pleadings not signed under oath as evidence that Dowd violated the rules.He allowed his office assistant to sign his name to any document generated by his office. The assistant hired him to assist her as executrix of her son’s estate and to enjoin the sale of two properties by her son’s former wife. All pleadings, motions, declarations and correspondence filed with the court and sent to opposing counsel in the case bore Dowd’s signature, but were actually signed by his assistant; none indicated that his signature was simulated by another person. The assistant signed at least 41 documents.When opposing counsel discovered Dowd’s practice, Dowd allowed the assistant to continue signing documents. The court warned him to discontinue the practice and expunged all recorded notices. He ultimately settled his client’s matter.Dowd was disciplined in 1998 for failing to properly supervise an employee who misappropriated client funds. He received some mitigation for cooperating with the bar’s investigation.July 31, 1998 ROBERT EATON DOWD [#93284], 53, of Bakersfield was suspended for one year, stayed, placed on probation for two years, and was ordered to make restitution and take the MPRE within one year. The order took effect July 31, 1998. Dowd stipulated to misconduct in five client matters, all resulting from wrongdoing by his office administrator. The administrator, Rick Alvarez, also served as Dowd's paralegal and investigator. In 1995, he pleaded no contest to charges of unauthorized practice of law, capping and grand theft. Despite the plea, Dowd continued to employ Alvarez, who retained clients, accepted fees, and promised Dowd would handle their cases - all without telling Dowd.As a result, Dowd did not appear at hearings, initiate proceedings or complete other legal work for which he had been hired. In one matter, a client paid Alvarez more than $22,000 to represent a family member accused of murder and robbery. In another matter, divorce proceedings were not initiated.Dowd stipulated that he did not perform legal services competently.The Bakersfield district attorney has filed criminal charges against Alvarez as a result of his actions with victims who thought they had hired Dowd. Dowd was unaware that advanced legal fees were given to Alvarez because he was in Arizona and Illinois handling federal criminal cases.Alvarez is a fugitive.Dowd began to make restitution to Alvarez' victims once he discovered the extent of the theft and has so far paid out more than $47,000. Much of the money came from Dowd's mother and from his three children's college fund.He also pays $1,500 a month in child support, and currently lives in his office. |