Thomas Howard Ravatt was first admitted to the California Bar 18th December 1975, but is now no longer eligible to practice. Thomas graduated from Southwestern University SOL.

Lawyer Information

NameThomas Howard Ravatt
First Admitted18 December 1975 (48 years, 11 months ago)
StatusNot Eligible to Practice
Bar Number67228

Contact

Current Email[email protected]
Phone Number323-359-6555
Fax Number323-359-6555

Schools

Law SchoolSouthwestern University SOL (Los Angeles CA)
Undergraduate SchoolCalifornia St University (Los Angeles CA)

Address

Current AddressPO Box 32124
Long Beach, CA 90832-2124
Map
Previous Address2521 1/2 W Beverly Blvd
Montebello, CA 90640

History

1 October 2020Not eligible to practice law in CA (4 years, 1 month ago)
Suspended, failed to pay fees
1 October 2020Not eligible to practice law in CA (4 years, 1 month ago)
Admin Inactive/MCLE noncompliance
29 December 2009Active (14 years, 10 months ago)
9 May 2009Not eligible to practice law in CA (15 years, 5 months ago)
Discipline w/actual suspension 05-O-04953
29 August 2007Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 05-O-04953 (17 years, 2 months ago)
30 August 2005Active (19 years, 2 months ago)
31 July 2005Not eligible to practice law in CA (19 years, 3 months ago)
Discipline w/actual suspension 03-O-01341
21 September 2004Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 03-O-01341 (20 years, 1 month ago)
20 October 2002Discipline, probation; no actual susp. 99-O-10497 (22 years ago)
26 July 2001Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 99-O-10497 (23 years, 3 months ago)
18 December 1975Admitted to the State Bar of California (48 years, 11 months ago)

Discipline Summaries

May 9, 2009

THOMAS H. RAVATT [#67228], 67, of Montebello was suspended for two years, stayed, placed on three years of probation with an actual six-month suspension and he was ordered to take the MPRE, comply with rule 9.20 and prove his rehabilitation. The order took effect May 9, 2009.

The State Bar Court found that Ravatt failed to perform legal services competently in a conservatorship matter.

He was hired by the daughter of an individual who lived in Nevada and already was subject to a guardianship there. All funds belonging to the man were held in a blocked account.

After the man moved to San Jose, the daughter, represented by Ravatt, was appointed his conservator and Ravatt asked the Nevada attorney to transfer the father’s assets to the California conservatorship. However, the conservatorship was never finalized.

The court had appointed Robert Kern, a probate volunteer panel attorney, as counsel for the father. Three years later, Ravatt and his co-counsel asked Kern to approve the order appointing a probate conservator as to form and content. Kern refused, questioning the need for a conservatorship at that time. The daughter hired a new lawyer, who obtained Kern’s approval of the form but continued to question the need for a conservator at the time.

The father died the following year.

Ravatt testified at his trial before the bar court that he agreed with Kern that the father’s interests were protected in Nevada and there was no need for a conservatorship in California. However, he never conveyed his thinking to his client and never contacted Kern. His failure to do so was the basis for the bar court’s finding that he did not perform legal services competently. Ravatt took almost no action in the conservatorship for at least two years.

Ravatt “then compounded this error by doing almost nothing in the matter until … a few years later,” wrote Judge Richard Platel. His “failure to contact Kern, or file a pleading with the court requesting that the letters be granted, led to a long period of inactivity that could have, and should have, been avoided.”

He has two prior discipline records. He received a stayed suspension and probation in 2002 after stipulating to misconduct in five matters, including failing to respond to client inquiries and perform legal services competently. In 2003, he was suspended and placed on probation for failing to properly maintain his client trust account or pay client funds promptly.

Although the State Bar sought Ravatt’s disbarment, Platel said the nature and extent of all his misconduct do not warrant such a harsh punishment.

July 31, 2005

THOMAS H. RAVATT [#67228], 63, of Montebello was suspended for one year, stayed, and was placed on two years of probation with a 30-day actual suspension. The order took effect July 31, 2005.

Ravatt stipulated that he failed to maintain client funds in trust or pay his client’s medical bills promptly. He received a settlement check for $21,000 in a personal injury case and was required to hold about $2,600 to pay his client’s medical bills. While Ravatt was out of the country, his paralegal gave a $15,000 check to the client, and wrote two checks for $3,000 each as Ravatt’s fee.

The paralegal told the client she was entitled to the $15,000, in effect reducing Ravatt’s fee without his authorization. Nonetheless, he honored her promise.

Ravatt paid the client’s medical bills from his personal checking account and paid her the difference between the cost of the bills and the amount he was required to hold in trust for her.

Ravatt has a prior record of discipline: he received a stayed suspension in 2002 for failing to perform legal services competently or communicate with a client.

In mitigation, he cooperated with the bar’s investigation.

October 20, 2002

THOMAS HOWARD RAVATT [#67228], 60, of Montebello was suspended for six months, stayed, placed on two years of probation and was ordered to take the MPRE within a year. The order took effect Oct. 20, 2002.

Ravatt stipulated to failing to respond to client inquiries in five cases.

For three years, he assisted Document Preparation Services, a paralegal service in Ontario, with various legal matters while maintaining a part-time law office in the DPS suite. The DPS supervising paralegal interviewed clients, had them sign a fee agreement with Ravatt's office and accepted advanced attorney's fees.

In one matter, for instance, a client whose fiancé was killed in a boating accident employed DPS to file a probate claim. She wanted to obtain the monetary value of her property held in the fiance's estate.

Ravatt did not return any of her phone calls and did not respond to a letter firing him and asking for a refund of her $350 advance fee. He later sent her a check for $175 and copies of his legal research on her case.

In another matter, a client hired Ravatt, through DPS, to obtain a modification of a child support judgment. He paid $2,500 in advance fees, and later paid another $850 for a related custody case. Ravatt filed a summons and complaint on his client's behalf in 1998. The client called his office periodically for more than a year and finally sent Ravatt two letters asking for an appointment.

Ravatt did not respond to any phone calls or letters but in 2000, he filed an order to show cause for a modification of his client's child support.

In mitigation, Ravatt has no prior record of discipline and he ended his relationship with DPS.