SAN FRANCISCO (Northern California Record) — La Verne attorney Mark Robert Haddon faces disbarment following a California State Bar Court recommendation over 12 counts of misconduct that included misappropriating almost $12,000 in one client matter.
Haddon also was alleged to have failed to communicate a settlement offer, simulated a client's signature on a settlement agreement, presented a fabricated document to a client and failed to notify a client of the receipt of client, said the 27-page decision and order of involuntary inactive enrollment issued June 20 by the state bar court. Haddon admitted to the misappropriation and the state bar court found him culpable in 11 of 12 counts against him, which included allegations Haddon lied to his client to hid the misappropriation.
The court did found Haddon not culpable in a charge of sharing fees with nonlawyers, according to the decision and order.
The court found Haddon's mitigating circumstances, which included having no prior disciplinary record and suffering from extreme emotional or physical difficulties at the time of the misconduct, were "not compelling" and were "far outweighed by the significant aggravating factors," the decision and order said. "Therefore, having considered the nature and extent of the misconduct, the aggravating and mitigating circumstances, as well as the case law and standards, the court finds that [Haddon]'s disbarment is necessary to protect the public, the courts and the legal profession; to maintain high professional standards; and to preserve public confidence in the legal profession," the decision and order said.
The state bar's recommendation is pending final action by the California Supreme Court, an appeal before the state bar's review department or expiration of time in which parties may request further review within the state bar court.
Haddon's recommended discipline was among the dispositions filed earlier this month by the state bar court's hearing department for June. Haddon was admitted to the bar in California on Dec. 10, 1996, according to his profile at the state bar website.