LOS ANGELES — Sherman Oaks attorney Eric Raymond Rasmussen was placed on one year of probation by the California State Bar Court after he pleaded no contest to allegedly inflicting injury on his girlfriend.
The ruling was made effective Nov. 20, 2016, according to Rasmussen's profile page on the State Bar website.
According to court documents, in the early morning hours of Dec. 23, 2014, Rasmussen left a Christmas party with his girlfriend of two years, with whom he lived for six months. The two, who were intoxicated at the time, arrived at their home via a ride-hailing vehicle. The attorney’s girlfriend — referred to in court documents as “Ms. A” — went to retrieve her makeup bag from Rasmussen’s car at that time. Though the initiating factor is not revealed in court texts, at some point the attorney grew angry and allegedly grabbed Ms. A by the back of the head and twice slammed her face onto the dashboard. Rasmussen then allegedly backhanded his girlfriend against the left side of her face.
Rasmussen’s girlfriend then ran from the car to their upstairs apartment, where the attorney asked her to step inside the unit and have a discussion. An argument ensued inside the apartment, and Ms. A began to collect her things from the bathroom. Rasmussen allegedly grabbed Ms. A by the neck and “pushed her forward,” which allegedly made her bend face down into the bathtub. Ms. A was able to escape and run from the apartment, and was met by two Los Angeles police officers responding to a call.
Rasmussen then was taken to Van Nuys Jail for booking.
On April 21, 2015, the attorney pleaded no contest in criminal court to “inflicting corporal injury resulting in a traumatic condition against a spouse or cohabitant,” a Penal Code violation that is a misdemeanor. Rasmussen was sentenced to 36 months of probation and 15 days of community labor, and ordered him to enroll in a year-long treatment program for domestic violence, attend two Alcoholic Anonymous meetings per week for one year, and not own or use any firearm for 10 years or any “dangerous or deadly weapons.”
Mitigating circumstances taken into consideration by the State Bar Court included Rasmussen’s ability to provide six character witnesses, one of whom was Ms. A. In addition, Rasmussen entered into a pre-trial stipulation, which saved the California State Bar time and resources.
During Rasmussen’s one year of probation, he will need to submit quarterly reports of his business dealings to the Office of Probation. Any updates to his personal or professional situation will also need to be provided to the office within 10 business days.
Rasmussen must take and pass the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination. Failure to pass the MPRE or adhere to any of the terms of his probation will result in a one-year suspension without hearing. Rasmussen will be responsible for covering all court costs, which at the time of sentencing totaled $2,567. The costs are subject to increase, in which case Rasmussen will need to pay the additional fees.
Court documents for all State Bar Court of California cases can be found online at calbar.ca.gov.