William Wong Woo was admitted to the California Bar 11th May 1981, but has since been disbarred. William graduated from Whittier Coll SOL.
Lawyer Information
| Name | William Wong Woo |
|---|---|
| First Admitted | 11 May 1981 (43 years ago) |
| Status | Disbarred |
| Bar Number | 98489 |
Contact
| Current Email | [email protected] |
|---|---|
| Phone Number | 714-282-2280 |
| Fax Number | 714-836-8285 |
Schools
| Law School | Whittier Coll SOL (CA) |
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| Undergraduate School | University of Southern Calif (Los Angeles CA) |
Address
| Current Address | 1905 E 17th St #312 Santa Ana, CA 92705 |
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| Map |
History
| 2 December 2001 | Disbarred (22 years, 5 months ago) Disbarment 99-O-12059 |
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| 19 August 2001 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (22 years, 8 months ago) Discipline w/actual suspension 98-O-03667 |
| 6 July 2001 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (22 years, 10 months ago) Ordered inactive 99-O-12059 |
| 24 March 2001 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (23 years, 1 month ago) Ordered inactive 99-O-12059 |
| 2 February 2001 | Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 99-O-12059 (23 years, 3 months ago) |
| 19 October 2000 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (23 years, 6 months ago) Ordered inactive 98-O-03670 |
| 15 October 1999 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (24 years, 6 months ago) Suspended, failed to pass Prof.Resp.Exam 96-O-04667 |
| 4 January 1999 | Active (25 years, 4 months ago) |
| 10 September 1998 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (25 years, 8 months ago) Discipline w/actual suspension 96-O-04667 |
| 6 January 1998 | Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 97-O-11899 (26 years, 4 months ago) |
| 21 March 1997 | Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 96-O-04667 (27 years, 1 month ago) |
| 11 May 1981 | Admitted to the State Bar of California (43 years ago) |
Discipline Summaries
December 2, 2001 WILLIAM WONG WOO [#98489], 53, of Santa Ana was disbarred Dec. 2, 2001, and was ordered to comply with rule 955. In a default proceeding, the State Bar Court found that Woo committed eight counts of misconduct in three matters, including failure to perform competently or communicate with clients and committing an act of moral turpitude. Each case involved the same clients.In the first matter, Woo was hired in 1986 by a couple to represent them in a breach of contract. He filed the complaint in 1987, but by 1992, the court published a notice that the case would be dismissed for failure to prosecute. Woo never objected and the case was dismissed, although he never notified the clients.Five months later, the clients tried unsuccessfully to reach Woo. Six years later, they sought a written report on the case and complained that Woo had never returned their many phone calls. He did not respond.The same year Woo filed the breach of contract matter, he filed a second breach of contract and negligence claim against a realtor. Five years later, he asked that one of the defendants be dismissed without prejudice, and did not inform his clients. Two years after that, an arbitrator ruled in favor of the defendants and Woo told his clients he planned to request a trial.Three years later, the court ordered the case to binding arbitration. After several continuances, the court ordered the case dismissed with prejudice.In 1993, the same couple had Woo file a personal injury claim as the result of an automobile accident. Over the next three and a half years, the insurance company repeatedly requested Woo to provide them with information about the accident which occurred in Florida, a state with a four-year statute of limitations. The statute expired without Woo taking any action.Later, he told his clients the case had settled for $30,000 and asked them to sign claim releases. He gave them fabricated settlement papers, which included a $12,000 fee for himself. He issued a cashier’s check to his client for $17,748 which he said was the client’s share of the purported settlement.The bar court found that Woo failed to perform legal services competently, respond to his clients’ status inquiries, or keep clients reasonably informed about significant developments in their case, and he committed acts of moral turpitude by misrepresenting information about the personal injury case.Woo has a record of discipline, including an unauthorized practice of law finding last year. He also was disciplined in 1998 for 14 counts of misconduct in five matters, including failing to perform legal services competently, communicate with clients, refund unearned fees, provide accountings of client funds and cooperate with the bar’s investigation. Woo also failed to properly withdraw from representation, he did not obtain a client’s written consent to a potentially adverse representation, and he committed an act of moral turpitude by failing to disclose a material fact and misrepresentation.He also was privately reproved in 1996, but did not comply with probation conditions.August 19, 2001 WILLIAM WONG WOO [#98489], 53, of Santa Ana was suspended for 18 months, stayed, actually suspended for 120 days and until the State Bar Court grants a motion to terminate, and was ordered to comply with rule 955. If the actual suspension exceeds two years, he must prove his rehabilitation. The order took effect Aug. 19, 2001. In a default proceeding, the State Bar Court found that Woo practiced law while suspended from practice. In one matter, he filed a substitution of attorney to represent a client in superior court, and in another matter, he filed a complaint and several supporting documents.The court also found that Woo’s actions amounted to moral turpitude.A 1998 discipline was the result of 14 counts of misconduct in five matters, including failing to perform legal services competently, communicate with clients, refund unearned fees, provide accountings of client funds and cooperate with the bar’s investigation. Woo also failed to properly withdraw from representation, he did not obtain a client’s written consent to a potentially adverse representation, and he committed an act of moral turpitude by failing to disclose a material fact and misrepresentation.September 10, 1998 WILLIAM WONG WOO [#98489], 51, of Garden Grove was suspended for two years, stayed, placed on three years of probation with an actual 60-day suspension, and was ordered to take the MPRE. The order took effect Sept. 10, 1998. Woo stipulated to multiple counts of misconduct in four cases.In the first, he was retained to handle both an unlawful detainer action and a quiet title action for a client. He asked opposing counsel to stipulate to a consolidation of the two actions but never submitted the stipulation. He later did not appear at trial and a default judgment was entered against his client. He also did not inform his client that some defendants were dismissed from the case due to failure to serve them.Woo failed to perform legal services competently or keep his client informed of developments in her case.Another client advanced $10,000 to Woo in an eminent domain case, but the client later hired a new attorney, who asked for a final billing. Woo did not provide a final accounting or a refund of about $2,600 for more than a year. The accounting listed a $4,000 geotechnical report, paid for by the advanced fees. Woo agreed to pay the $4,000 due the vendor, but has not done so.Woo failed to appear in court twice in another matter, which was dismissed. After the dismissal, he met with his client and said he planned to sue a different party. He didn't tell the client the case was dismissed.In the fourth matter, Woo did not obtain a client's written consent to a potentially adverse representation, nor did he take steps to resolve the litigation in question. When the client hired a new attorney, Woo did not sign the substitution forms or return client files promptly.Woo did not cooperate with the bar's investigation of these matters.In mitigation, he has no record of discipline since his 1981 admission to the bar. |