Margaret Ellen Monos was admitted to the California Bar 11th June 1990, but has since been disbarred. Margaret graduated from USC Law School.
Lawyer Information
| Name | Margaret Ellen Monos |
|---|---|
| First Admitted | 11 June 1990 (34 years, 5 months ago) |
| Status | Disbarred |
| Bar Number | 146871 |
Schools
| Law School | USC Law School (Los Angeles CA) |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate School | University of California San Diego (La Jolla CA) |
Address
| Current Address | 4929 Wilshire Blvd Ste 930 Los Angeles, CA 90010 |
|---|---|
| Map |
History
| 5 October 2007 | Disbarred (17 years, 1 month ago) Disbarment 06-O-10931 |
|---|---|
| 14 June 2007 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (17 years, 5 months ago) Discipline w/actual suspension 05-O-02773 |
| 30 April 2007 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (17 years, 6 months ago) Ordered inactive 06-O-10931 |
| 21 January 2007 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (17 years, 10 months ago) Ordered inactive 06-O-10931 |
| 21 November 2006 | Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 06-O-10931 (17 years, 12 months ago) |
| 3 August 2006 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (18 years, 3 months ago) Ordered inactive 05-O-02773 |
| 12 June 2006 | Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 05-O-02773 (18 years, 5 months ago) |
| 11 June 1990 | Admitted to the State Bar of California (34 years, 5 months ago) |
Discipline Summaries
October 5, 2007 MARGARET E. MONOS [#146871], 33, of Los Angeles was disbarred Oct. 5, 2007, and was ordered to comply with rule 9.20 of the California Rules of Court and make restitution to five clients. In a default proceeding, the State Bar Court found that Monos committed 21 acts of misconduct in six client matters that were either marital dissolutions or child support issues. Each client made repeated attempts to obtain information, their case files, unearned fees or accountings from Monos.One client, for example, called Monos 24 times without getting a response. Other than an invoice for legal fees, Monos did not communicate with him about the case.Another client reconciled with his wife and was entitled to a refund of advanced fees. Despite numerous phone calls and letters demanding an accounting and a refund, the client never received a response from Monos.In another case, she never filed the dissolution petition or responded to her client’s inquiries. When he fired her, Monos did not refund unearned fees, account for the fees or return his file.She did not perform any legal services for a client who hired her to set aside two judgments of paternity and to resolve a child support dispute. Another client called her three or four times a week, but she took no action to resolve his child support arrearages.Monos had another disciplinary recommendation pending before the Supreme Court stemming from similar misconduct: she essentially abandoned four clients, did not return unearned fees or client files and did not provide accountings. She did not participate in those proceedings.Judge Richard Platel recommended that Monos be disbarred, noting she had been engaged in misconduct for more than two years, affecting 10 clients. “The serious and unexplained nature of the misconduct, the lack of participation in these proceedings as well as the self-interest underlying (her) actions suggest that she is capable of future wrongdoing and raise concerns about her ability or willingness to comply with her ethical responsibilities,†Platel wrote.June 14, 2007 MARGARET ELLEN MONOS [#146871], 43, of Los Angeles was suspended for five years, stayed, and was actually suspended for two years and until the State Bar Court grants a motion to terminate the suspension and she makes restitution. She was ordered to take the MPRE and comply with rule 9.20. The order took effect June 14, 2007. In a default proceeding, the bar court found that Monos committed 17 acts of misconduct in abandoning four cases. She failed to perform legal services competently, return unearned fees or client files, did not account for client funds and she failed to cooperate with the bar’s investigation.Monos did some work for a client in a divorce matter, filing a pleading on his behalf. Despite her promise to keep him informed about developments in the case, she did no more work and did not return his many phone calls or respond to his letters. The client wound up representing himself.Another client hired Monos for help with child support arrearages, but she did no work, did not respond to his e-mails or phone calls and did not refund his $2,000 advance fee.Another hired Monos to obtain the release of his driver’s license and to establish a payment plan for child support. The man’s wife paid his legal fees. He returned a declaration to Monos that she asked him to fill out and when his wife sent changes to the declaration, Monos did not make the changes. She never provided any services of value.In the last case, a client who hired Monos to represent him in a child support case left 25 phone messages for her. She did not respond or perform any work of value. She did not return his file or refund his $2,000 advance fee.In mitigation, she practiced for 14 years without a discipline record.June 14, 2007 MARGARET ELLEN MONOS [#146871], 43, of Los Angeles was suspended for five years, stayed, and was actually suspended for two years and until the State Bar Court grants a motion to terminate the suspension and she makes restitution. She was ordered to take the MPRE and comply with rule 9.20. The order took effect June 14, 2007. In a default proceeding, the bar court found that Monos committed 17 acts of misconduct in abandoning four cases. She failed to perform legal services competently, return unearned fees or client files, did not account for client funds and she failed to cooperate with the bar’s investigation.Monos did some work for a client in a divorce matter, filing a pleading on his behalf. Despite her promise to keep him informed about developments in the case, she did no more work and did not return his many phone calls or respond to his letters. The client wound up representing himself.Another client hired Monos for help with child support arrearages, but she did no work, did not respond to his e-mails or phone calls and did not refund his $2,000 advance fee.Another hired Monos to obtain the release of his driver’s license and to establish a payment plan for child support. The man’s wife paid his legal fees. He returned a declaration to Monos that she asked him to fill out and when his wife sent changes to the declaration, Monos did not make the changes. She never provided any services of value.In the last case, a client who hired Monos to represent him in a child support case left 25 phone messages for her. She did not respond or perform any work of value. She did not return his file or refund his $2,000 advance fee.In mitigation, she practiced for 14 years without a discipline record. |