Opinion ID: 1293440
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Facts of the Misconduct

Text: As his first case after admission to the bar in November 1982, petitioner represented Joseph Carrillo in a criminal matter. Carrillo subsequently asked petitioner to bring a civil action against the City of Pacific Grove (hereafter City) for injuries Carrillo suffered at the time of his arrest. Petitioner and Carrillo agreed that petitioner would receive one-third of the gross recovery as his fee and would be reimbursed for costs. In January 1984, Carrillo's civil lawsuit was settled. The City issued petitioner a check, payable jointly to petitioner and Carrillo, in the amount of $15,000. After deduction of petitioner's fees and costs, Carrillo should have received $9,300. Petitioner deposited the $15,000 check into his general account, and withdrew $500 in cash at the time of the deposit. Shortly thereafter, he misappropriated the $9,300 due Carrillo. During the next four months, petitioner lied to Carrillo, telling him at one point that settlement was delayed and at another point that the check was lost. When, as a result of Carrillo's inquiries, the attorney who had represented the City in the lawsuit learned Carrillo had not been paid, he reported the matter to the Monterey Police Department. The second instance of misconduct involved petitioner's representation of Ramona Hills in a criminal case in April 1984. Hills was convicted and ordered to pay restitution. Hills's parents gave $1,800 to petitioner to be used as partial payment of the restitution. Petitioner misappropriated the entire $1,800. The third matter involved Robert Brown, who was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol (Veh. Code, § 23152, subd. (a)). He hired petitioner to defend him. When petitioner repeatedly failed to appear in court on Brown's behalf, bench warrants were issued for Brown's arrest. Brown fired petitioner and filed suit to recover the legal fees he had advanced. In January 1985, Brown obtained a default judgment in that action and was awarded $750 in compensatory damages, $1,500 in punitive damages, and $65.25 in costs. As of August 1987, when the State Bar evidentiary hearing was held, petitioner had paid only $200 toward the Brown judgment. Based on the misappropriation of funds from clients Carrillo and Hills, petitioner was charged with two counts of felony grand theft. On October 12, 1984, petitioner was convicted on both counts in a court trial. The court suspended imposition of sentence and granted probation, conditioned upon petitioner's serving 180 days in county jail, entering a drug or alcohol treatment program, and making restitution to Hills. After petitioner had served 60 days in jail, the court modified the terms of probation to allow him to complete the remainder of his custody in a residential alcohol and drug rehabilitation program. Following his conviction but before the probation and sentencing hearing, petitioner paid Carrillo.