Ralph Joseph Leech was admitted to the California Bar 21st December 1977, but is now resigned. Ralph graduated from University of West Los Angeles.
Lawyer Information
| Name | Ralph Joseph Leech |
|---|---|
| First Admitted | 21 December 1977 (47 years ago) |
| Status | Resigned |
| Bar Number | 77146 |
Contact
| Phone Number | 626-443-0061 |
|---|---|
| Fax Number | 626-443-1165 |
Schools
| Law School | University of West Los Angeles (Los Angeles CA) |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate School | Pasadena City Coll (Pasadena CA) |
Address
| Current Address | 11001 E Valley Mall # 200 El Monte, CA 91731 |
|---|---|
| Map |
History
| 17 September 2015 | Resigned (9 years, 3 months ago) Resignation, no charges pending |
|---|---|
| 24 June 2015 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (9 years, 6 months ago) Inactive - Vol. resignation tendered |
| 4 December 2010 | Active (14 years ago) |
| 4 November 2010 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (14 years, 1 month ago) Discipline w/actual suspension 08-O-11747 |
| 21 December 1977 | Admitted to the State Bar of California (47 years ago) |
Discipline Summaries
November 4, 2010 RALPH JOSEPH LEECH [#77146], 78, of El Monte was suspended for one year, stayed, placed on one year of probation with an actual 30-day suspension and he was ordered to take the MPRE within one year. The order took effect Nov. 4, 2010. Leech stipulated that he failed to perform legal services competently in a single matter.He employed Mark Weber as a legal assistant without knowing Weber was a disbarred lawyer. Eventually, a friend who was a judge and the trustee of a trust opened two bank accounts for the trust, one under Weber’s name, and both listing Leech’s address. Weber collected and maintained the monthly statements, since the judge had not hired Leech.When the judge was diagnosed with cancer, he gave Weber several pre-signed checks from both accounts in order that he could pay the trust’s expenses. The judge eventually hired Leech to help administer the trusts and when he took control of the checkbooks and the pre-signed checks, he assumed the responsibility to administer the accounts properly. However, he did not review either the checkbooks or bank statements.After the judge died, Leech learned that Weber had embezzled $252,155 from the trust accounts. He stipulated that he failed to perform legal services competently.In mitigation, Leech had no prior discipline record, he cooperated with the bar’s investigation and he was preoccupied with serious health issues suffered by family members, his best friend and himself. Leech reported the theft to the police; Weber is a fugitive and, according to the stipulation, is believed to be in Thailand. |