SAN FRANCISCO – Longtime Granada Hills attorney Stanley Howard Kimmel has been suspended following a California Supreme Court order over allegations arising from four matters, according to a recent report issued by The State Bar of California and court documents.
The Supreme Court handed down a one-year suspension, with all but 60 days stayed, and placed Kimmel on a year of conditional probation. Passing the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam was included among Kimmel's probation conditions.
Kimmel also was ordered to pay costs.
Kimmel's suspension and probation became effective March 3, according to a report provided to the Northern California Record Friday by the state bar.
Kimmel was admitted to the bar in California on Dec. 21, 1977, according to his profile at the state bar website. Kimmel had no prior discipline before the state bar, according to his profile.
In a stipulation filed with the State Bar Court of California in October, Kimmel admitted he "intentionally, recklessly and repeatedly failed to perform legal services with competence" in one client matter, a lawsuit against an investment company in Los Angeles County Superior Court. Kimmel failed to appear at trial, to timely exchange witness and exhibit lists with opposing counsel and to timely file a response to a complaint and summons, according to the stipulation.
In another client matter, a case against an insurance company in Los Angeles County Superior Court, Kimmel, among other things, allegedly failed to prepare and file an opposition to a summary judgment motion and to appear at a hearing on the motions. His clients' case was dismissed as a result, according to the stipulation.
Kimmel's lack of prior disciplinary record and good character were considered mitigating actors in the disciplinary proceedings.
"[Kimmel]'s 35 years of discipline-free practice prior to the misconduct will be entitled to significant mitigating weight," the stipulation said. "[Kimmel] has also provided character letters from 10 witnesses, two of which are licensed attorneys and one of which is a consultant to a council member in the city of Los Angeles, who have been acquainted with [Kimmel] in a personal or professional context for a significant period of time. Many of the character witnesses are former or current clients of respondent and have reported that respondent has been diligent in his representation of their matters and is highly communicative."