Case Number(s): 09-H-15878-2
In the Matter of: Mark S. Simonian, Bar # 96969, A Member of the State Bar of California, (Respondent).
Counsel For The State Bar: Elina Kreditor, Bar # 250641
Counsel for Respondent: Susan Margolis, Bar # 104629
Submitted to: Settlement Judge State Bar Court Clerk’s Office Los Angeles
Filed: March 10, 2010
<<not>> checked. PREVIOUS STIPULATION REJECTED
Note: All information required by this form and any additional information which cannot be provided in the space provided, must be set forth in an attachment to this stipulation under specific headings, e.g., "Facts," "Dismissals," "Conclusions of Law," "Supporting Authority," etc.
1. Respondent is a member of the State Bar of California, admitted January 22, 1981.
2. The parties agree to be bound by the factual stipulations contained herein even if conclusions of law or disposition are rejected or changed by the Supreme Court.
3. All investigations or proceedings listed by case number in the caption of this stipulation are entirely resolved by this stipulation and are deemed consolidated. Dismissed charge(s)/count(s) are listed under "Dismissals." The stipulation consists of 9 pages, not including the order.
4. A statement of acts or omissions acknowledged by Respondent as cause or causes for discipline is included under "Facts."
5. Conclusions of law, drawn from and specifically referring to the facts are also included under "Conclusions of Law".
6. The parties must include supporting authority for the recommended level of discipline under the heading "Supporting Authority."
7. No more than 30 days prior to the filing of this stipulation, Respondent has been advised in writing of any pending investigation/proceeding not resolved by this stipulation, except for criminal investigations.
8. Payment of Disciplinary Costs-Respondent acknowledges the provisions of Bus. & Prof. Code §§6086.10 & 6140.7. (Check one option only):
<<not>> checked. costs added to membership fee for calendar year following effective date of discipline.
checked. costs to be paid in equal amounts prior to February 1 for the following membership years: two billing cycles following the effective date of discipline. (hardship, special circumstances or other good cause per rule 284, Rules of Procedure.)
<<not>> checked. costs waived in part as set forth in a separate attachment entitled "Partial Waiver of Costs".
<<not>> checked. costs entirely waived.
IN THE MATTER OF: Mark S. Simonian
CASE NUMBER(S): 09-H-15878
FACTS AND CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
Mark S, Simonian ("Respondent") admits that the following facts are true and that he is culpable of violations of the specified statutes and/or Rules of Professional Conduct.
I. Facts
1. On July 8, 2005, Respondent entered into a stipulation regarding facts, conclusions of law, and disposition in State Bar court case no. 02-0-15048.
2. On October 13, 2005, the State Bar court lodged its Confidential Statement of Alternative Dispositions and Orders setting forth the recommended discipline if Respondent successfully completed or was terminated from the court’s ADP program. Thereafter, Respondent successfully completed the court’s ADP program.
3. On June 3, 2008, the State Bar court issued its Decision and Discipline Order ("the Order") imposing upon Respondent a private reproval with conditions to be followed for a period of two years after the effective date of the reproval. The Order and the private reproval became effective on July 9, 2008.
4. The terms and conditions attached to the private reproval required the Respondent to provide proof of passage of the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) to the Office of Probation ("Probation") within one year after the effective date of the reproval, or by July 9, 2009.
5. The terms and conditions attached to the private reproval required the Respondent to provide proof of attendance at a session of the Ethics School and passage of the test given at the end of that session to Probation within one year after the effective date of the reproval, or by July 9, 2009.
6. The terms and conditions attached to the private reproval required the Respondent to submit quarterly reports to Probation on each January 10, April 10, July 10 and October 10 of the reproval period, certifying under penalty of perjury whether Respondent has complied with the State Bar Act, the Rules of Professional Conduct, an all conditions of the reproval during the preceding calendar quarter.
7. Respondent did not submit proof of passage of the MPRE to Probation by July 9, 2009.
8. Respondent did not submit proof of attendance of a session of the Ethics School and passage of the test given at the end of that session to Probation by July 9, 2009.
9. Respondent did not submit Quarterly Reports due by October 10, 2008; January 10, 2009; April 10, 2009; July 10, 2009; October 10, 2009; and January 10, 2010.
II. Conclusions of Law
By not submitting proof of passage of the MPRE or of attendance at a session of Ethics School by July 9, 2009, and by not submitting quarterly reports by the due dates of October 10, 2008; January 10, 2009; April 10, 2009; July 10, 2009; October 10, 2009; and January 10, 2010, Respondent failed to comply with the conditions attached to a private reproval administered by the State Bar, in willful violation of rule 1-110 of the Rules of Professional Conduct.
PENDING PROCEEDINGS
The disclosure date referred to, on page 2, paragraph A(7), was February 17, 2010.
COSTS OF DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS
Respondent acknowledges that the Office of the Chief Trial Counsel has informed respondent that as of February 17, 2010, the costs in this matter are $3,530.00. Respondent further acknowledges that should this stipulation be rejected or should relief from the stipulation be granted, the costs in this matter may increase due to the cost of further proceedings.
MPRE AND ETHICS SCHOOL CONDITIONS
With respect to the Ethics School condition on page five (5) of this stipulation, Respondent’s successful completion of Ethics School after execution of this stipulation, but prior to the effective date of the discipline herein, shall satisfy this condition.
With respect to the MPRE condition on page five (5) of this stipulation, Respondent’s successful passage of the MPRE after execution of this stipulation, but prior to the effective date of the discipline herein, shall satisfy this condition.
AUTHORITIES SUPPORTING DISCIPLINE
A. Standards
Standard 1.3 of the Standards for Attorney Sanctions for Professional Misconduct ("Standard(s)") provides that the primary purpose of discipline is the protection of the public, the courts and legal profession; maintenance of high professional standards; and the preservation of public confidence in the legal profession.
Standard 2.9 provides that a willful violation of rule 1-110 of the Rules of Professional Conduct, shall result in suspension.
Standard 1.7(a) provides that where a member has previously been found culpable of any misconduct, the degree of discipline imposed shall be greater than that imposed in the prior proceeding unless the prior discipline imposed was so remote in time to the current proceeding and the offense for which it was imposed was so minimal in severity that imposing greater discipline in the current proceeding would be manifestly unjust.
B. Case law
In In re Silverton (2005) 36 Cal. 4th 81, 92, the California Supreme Court held that the Standards for Attorney Sanctions for Professional Misconduct are entitled to "great weight" and the Court will "not reject a recommendation arising from the Standards unless [it has] grave doubts as to the propriety of the recommended discipline." The Standards are not binding but "they promote the consistent and uniform application of disciplinary measures." (Id.) The "presumptively appropriate level of discipline" for any misconduct is as set forth in the standards (See Morgan v. State Bar (1990) 51 Cal. 3d 598, 607).
SIGNATURE OF THE PARTIES
Case Number(s): 09-H-15878
In the Matter of: Mark S. Simonian
By their signatures below, the parties and their counsel, as applicable, signify their agreement with each of the recitation and each of the terms and conditions of this Stipulation Re Fact, Conclusions of Law and Disposition.
Signed by:
Respondent: Mark S. Simonian
Date: 02-23-2010
Respondent’s Counsel: Susan Margolis
Date: 2/23/10
Deputy Trial Counsel: Elina Kreditor
Date: 2/24/10
Case Number(s): 09-H-15878
In the Matter of: Mark S. Simonian
Finding the stipulation to be fair to the parties and that it adequately protects the public, IT IS ORDERED that the requested dismissal of counts/charges, if any, is GRANTED without prejudice, and:
checked. The stipulated facts and disposition are APPROVED and the DISCIPLINE RECOMMENDED to the Supreme Court.
<<not>> checked. The stipulated facts and disposition are APPROVED AS MODIFIED as set forth below, and the DISCIPLINE IS RECOMMENDED to the Supreme Court.
<<not>> checked. All Hearing dates are vacated.
The parties are bound by the stipulation as approved unless: 1) a motion to withdraw or modify the stipulation, filed within 15 days after service of this order, is granted; or 2) this court modifies or further modifies the approved stipulation. (See rule 135 (b), Rules of Procedure.) The effective date of this disposition is the effective date of the Supreme Court order herein, normally 30 days after the file date. (See rule 9.18(a), California Rules of Court.)
Signed by:
Judge of the State Bar Court: Richard A. Platel
Date: 3-9-10
[Rule 62 (b), Rules Proc.; Code Civ. Proc., § 1013a(4)]
I am a Case Administrator of the State Bar Court of California. I am over the age of eighteen and not a party to the within proceeding. Pursuant to standard court practice, in the City and County of Los Angeles, on March 10, 2010, I deposited a true copy of the following document(s):
STIPULATION RE FACTS, CONCLUSIONS OF LAW AND DISPOSITION AND ORDER APPROVING
in a sealed envelope for collection and mailing on that date as follows:
checked. by first-class mail, with postage thereon fully prepaid, through the United States Postal Service at Los Angeles, California, addressed as follows:
SUSAN LYNN MARGOLIS, ESQ. MARK SITRAK SIMONIAN, ESQ.
MARGOLIS & MARGOLIS LLP 500 S GRAND AVE 19TH FL
200 RIVERSIDE DR LOS ANGELES, CA 90071
LOS ANGELES, CA 90039
checked. by interoffice mail through a facility regularly maintained by the State Bar of California addressed as follows:
ELINA KREDITOR, ESQ., Enforcement, Los Angeles
I hereby certify that the foregoing is true and correct. Executed in Los Angeles, California, on March 10, 2010.
Signed by:
Rose Luthi
Case Administrator
State Bar Court