Steven Allen Royston was admitted to the California Bar 29th May 1981, but has since been disbarred. Steven graduated from Western State University.

Lawyer Information

NameSteven Allen Royston
First Admitted29 May 1981 (42 years, 11 months ago)
StatusDisbarred
Bar Number97862

Contact

Current Email[email protected]
Phone Number916-399-0470
Fax Number916-399-0476

Schools

Law SchoolWestern State University (CA)
Undergraduate SchoolUniversity of California at Los Angeles (CA)

Address

Current AddressLaw Office of Steven A Royston, 7321 Stockton Blvd
Sacramento, CA 95823
Map

History

18 August 2012Disbarred (11 years, 8 months ago)
Disbarment 11-N-12229
12 March 2012Not eligible to practice law in CA (12 years, 1 month ago)
Ordered inactive 11-N-12229
17 September 2011Not eligible to practice law in CA (12 years, 7 months ago)
Discipline w/actual suspension 10-O-08937
18 July 2011Not eligible to practice law in CA (12 years, 9 months ago)
Ordered inactive 11-N-12229
31 May 2011Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 11-N-12229 (12 years, 11 months ago)
11 February 2011Not eligible to practice law in CA (13 years, 2 months ago)
Discipline w/actual suspension 09-O-14063
31 December 2010Not eligible to practice law in CA (13 years, 3 months ago)
Ordered inactive 10-O-08937
19 October 2010Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 10-O-08937 (13 years, 6 months ago)
12 October 2010Not eligible to practice law in CA (13 years, 6 months ago)
Suspended, failed to pass Prof.Resp.Exam 07-O-13669
1 September 2010Not eligible to practice law in CA (13 years, 8 months ago)
Suspended, failed to pay fees
10 September 2009Discipline, probation; no actual susp. 07-O-13669 (14 years, 7 months ago)
3 July 2003Active (20 years, 10 months ago)
4 September 2002Not eligible to practice law in CA (21 years, 7 months ago)
Suspended, failed to pay fees
3 September 2002Not eligible to practice law in CA (21 years, 8 months ago)
Admin Inactive/MCLE noncompliance
29 May 1981Admitted to the State Bar of California (42 years, 11 months ago)

Discipline Summaries

August 18, 2012

STEVEN ALLEN ROYSTON, 58, of Sacramento was disbarred Aug. 18, 2012, and was ordered to comply with rule 9.20 of the California Rules of Court.

Royston’s default was entered when he did not respond to charges that he violated a 2011 probation. Any attorney who does not seek to have his default set aside or vacated within 180 days is subject to disbarment.

Royston did not comply with any probation conditions attached to the disciplinary order, his second of three. He had stipulated that he failed to perform with competence, shared legal fees with a non-lawyer, disobeyed court orders, committed an act of moral turpitude by making a misrepresentation, aided a person in the unauthorized practice of law, violated an earlier probation and did not cooperate with the bar’s investigation.

The first discipline was imposed in 2009 for failures to to perform, communicate with his client, abide by court orders and return a client file. He was disciplined again in 2011 for violating his probation.

September 17, 2011

STEVEN ALLEN ROYSTON [#], 57, of Sacramento was suspended for four years, stayed, actually suspended for two years and until the State Bar Court terminates the suspension and he proves his rehabilitation, and he was ordered to comply with rule 9.20 of the California Rules of Court. The order took effect Sept. 17, 2011.

In a default proceeding, the bar court found that Royston violated probation conditions imposed in 2009. He made no restitution payments and did not attend ethics school.

In the underlying matter, he admitted misconduct in two cases, including failures to perform legal services competently, obey court orders, communicate with a client and return client documents. He also was disciplined in 2011 for misconduct in six client matters, including failing to perform legal services, obey court orders, cooperate with the State Bar, and comply with probation conditions, and he committed an act of moral turpitude, shared legal fees with a non-lawyer and aided a person in the unauthorized practice of law.

Royston said he could not participate in the bar proceedings because of his wife's health issues and extreme financial difficulties.

February 11, 2011

STEVEN ALLEN ROYSTON [#97862], 56, of Sacramento was suspended for four years, stayed, placed on four years of probation with a two-year actual suspension and until he makes restitution and proves his rehabilitation, and he was ordered to take the MPRE and comply with rule 9.20 of the California Rules of Court. The order took effect Feb. 11, 2011.

Royston stipulated to 11 counts of misconduct in seven matters. He failed to perform legal services competently, committed acts of moral turpitude by misrepresenting the purpose of a document to his client, and he violated probationary requirements, shared fees with a non-lawyer and aided an individual in the unauthorized practice of law.

In one matter, for example, while working for a non-profit legal assistance organization as an independent contractor, he failed to appear at a hearing and withdrew from the case without notice. In another matter, he sued the lender who held his clients’ home loan, claiming it didn’t properly record the clients’ payments, resulting in a negative credit history and preventing them from refinancing. The case was ultimately dismissed because Royston repeatedly failed to appear and violated court orders. He was sanctioned four times for a total of $1,000 but didn’t pay the fines.

In mitigation, he cooperated with the bar’s investigation, voluntarily enrolled in the Lawyer Assistance Program for emotional difficulties and he had severe financial problems.

September 10, 2009

STEVEN ALLEN ROYSTON [#97862], 55, of Sacramento 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 Sept. 10, 2009.

Royston stipulated to six counts of misconduct in two matters.

In the first, he filed a personal injury lawsuit on behalf of a client who paid a $4,500 fee. The case was dismissed when he failed to respond to the court or opposing counsel regarding discovery. He was sanctioned five times, for a total of $1,500, for failing to appear or respond to discovery. He never paid the fines or advised his client of the developments in his case.

The client obtained a $59,295 default judgment against Royston for professional malpractice.

In the second matter, Royston sued a school district on behalf of a former high school principal for wrongful termination. He did not respond to a demurrer or a motion to strike and the court entered judgment against his client. He did not advise the client nor did he tell her when the school district won an amended judgment that included $9,010 in fees and $564 in costs.

The client discovered the judgment against her by going directly to the court. Royston did not return her file. The client sued Royston for malpractice and won a default judgment.

Royston stipulated that he failed to perform legal services competently, return a client’s file, inform clients of developments in their cases or obey court orders.

In mitigation, he cooperated with the bar’s investigation and has had financial problems. He was the victim of a home burglary in 2005 and as a result relocated three times in one year.