1875 Century Park E #600
Los Angeles, CA 90067
9 September 1998 | Resigned (26 years, 8 months ago) |
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30 November 1997 | Not Eligible To Practice Law in CA (27 years, 5 months ago) |
5 October 1981 | Admitted to The State Bar of California (43 years, 7 months ago) |
November 30, 1997 JEFFREY PHILIP MEYER [#98871], 46, of Los Angeles was suspended for two years, stayed, and placed on probation for three years, including 90 days of actual suspension, effective Nov. 30, 1997. He was ordered to pass the MPRE and comply with rule 955. Meyer’s misconduct involved his failure to comply with conditions of a private reproval. The bar’s office of trial counsel sought review of a hearing judge’s recommendation that Meyer receive a one-year stayed suspension, two years of probation and a 75-day actual suspension, on the basis that it was an inadequate amount of discipline. In addition, trial counsel maintained that the judge erred in his decision by not recommending that Meyer be required to file quarterly probation reports and notify his clients, opposing counsel and the courts of his 75-day actual suspension. The review judge rejected trial counsel’s request for additional finding in aggravation, but increased the period of Meyer’s actual suspension, stayed suspension and probation. Meyer also was ordered to comply with rule 955 since the period of actual suspension is 90 days. The hearing judge declined to recommend disbarment, considering Meyer’s prior record of discipline “not sufficiently severe.†The judge noted that in 1991 Meyer was suffering from extreme emotional difficulties and depression due to marital difficulties, which was considered a mitigating factor when he failed to comply with his first private reproval. In aggravation, Meyer has two prior instances of misconduct. The 1991 private reproval stemmed from one client matter when he failed to respond to a client’s reasonable case status inquiries, apprise the client of significant case developments and forward the client’s file to new counsel when requested. His second reproval occurred after he failed to abide by the conditions of the first reproval: to timely file specific probation reports and attend the bar’s ethics school. His current misconduct involves failure to comply with conditions of the second reproval. Meyer demonstrated indifference toward the rectification of his misconduct and his failure to attend three of his four scheduled disciplinary hearings was considered an aggravating factor. |