A look at past misconduct by former attorney Steve Liss, according to The State Bar of California and reports by 10News.
Created by kgtv_web on Feb 1, 2013
Last updated: 02/01/13 at 11:22 AM
Liss is sentenced to three years on probation after pleading guilty to grand theft for taking rent money.
http://www.10news.com/news/ex-lawyer-pleads-guilty-to-scam-gets-probation
Liss is in court again charged with grand theft for thousands of dollars in rent.
http://www.10news.com/news/ex-local-lawyer-faces-theft-charges
Liss is disbarred. The State Bar Court found that Liss has committed 13 acts of misconduct with five clients and involved unauthorized practice of law, illegal fees, failure to return unearned fees, failing to put client funds into a trust account, and "moral turpitude." A judge recommends disbarment because Liss claimed no wrongdoing. The judge writes, "his demonstrated willingness to mislead the State Bar, to obstruct the disciplinary process, to disregard the orders of both this and the Supreme Court, and to lie under oath to this court to avoid responsibility for his misconduct, makes clear that the three prior orders of discipline have not served any significant rehabilitative function.”
http://bit.ly/14v8dgY
The state bar orders an interim suspension.
Liss files to become active again with the state bar. The request is granted.
Liss is suspended by the state bar after failing to pay state bar member fees
Liss is ordered inactive by The State Bar of California
Liss is released from jail in relation to a murder-for-hire plot. The district attorney announces more evidence needed to bring charges.
http://www.10news.com/news/lawyer-accused-of-trying-to-have-wife-killed-released
Steven Liss is arrested and charged with allegedly soliciting to commit murder, one charge of false imprisonment with violence and one count of spousal battery.
http://www.10news.com/news/attorney-accused-in-murder-for-hire-plot
Liss is accused of stealing from a bank. The criminal complaint spells out the three felony charges against Liss, including passing a bad check, grand theft of personal property, and burglary.
In a court filing, San Diego Police say Liss deposited a $16, 066.79 check into his account at WAMU bank in La Jolla on June 12, 2008. It was a check drawn on another Liss account at Wachovia Securities.
He is later convicted on these charges.
http://bit.ly/14v7nkl
Liss continues to practice law despite being named on a $4,500 dollar bench warrant. He is accused of not paying former employee Karen Johnson
http://www.10news.com/news/san-diego-attorney-faces-bench-warrant-for-his-arrest
Liss files to become an active member of the State Bar. The request is granted.
http://bit.ly/14v6ZlT
Liss is put on probation after failing to communicate developments in a case to clients attempting to adopt a baby, according to a state bar report. The couple paid Liss $450 for a consulting fee. The clients were asked $17,500 in advanced fees and $1,000 plus costs as part of an employment agreement.
The clients paid Liss $19,000 in two installments, but later fired him for 'lack of diligence' in his effort to complete the adoption process. They asked for $18,500 back. Liss refused to give the refund, but was forced to repay the clients after the matter was taken to arbitration.
http://bit.ly/14v6vfp
Liss deposits a $16,066.79 check into his WAMU bank account. It was a check that was drawn from another account at Wachovia Securities. But that account has already been closed. Liss reportedly withdraws money from the WAMU account before the bank realizes that the check was bad.
http://www.10news.com/news/la-jolla-lawyer-in-court-to-face-his-own-felony-charges
Liss is ordered inactive by the state bar after failing to make payments in an arbitration award. According to the state bar, Liss agreed to payment plan to pay an arbitration award, but failed to make the payments.
http://bit.ly/14v6Te5
The State Bar of California suspends Liss for failure to pay member fees.
Steve Liss is publicly reproved twice in 2004 for incompletely performing legal services and for failing to refund unearned fees to comply with a court order.
http://bit.ly/14v6iJ9
Steven Robert Liss is admitted to The State Bar of California.
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