Opinion
S239369
03-22-2017
WARD ON DISCIPLINE
Petition for review denied; recommended discipline imposed
The court orders that WILLIAM JOSEPH WARD, State Bar Number 113849, is suspended from the practice of law in California for one year, execution of that period of suspension is stayed, and he is placed on probation for two years subject to the following conditions:
1. WILLIAM JOSEPH WARD is suspended from the practice of law for the first six months of probation. He is given credit for the six months of actual suspension that he served from April 18, 2016 to October 18, 2016.
2. WILLIAM JOSEPH WARD must comply with the other conditions of probation recommended by the Hearing Department of the State Bar Court in its Order Approving Stipulation filed on October 19, 2016, except for condition F(2). Ward need not comply with condition F(2), which appears on page 6 of the stipulation, under the heading “Other Conditions Negotiated by the Parties.”
3. At the expiration of the period of probation, if WILLIAM JOSEPH WARD has complied with all conditions of probation, the period of stayed suspension will be satisfied and that suspension will be terminated.
WILLIAM JOSEPH WARD must also take and pass the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination within one year after the effective date of this order and provide satisfactory proof of such passage to the State Bar's Office of Probation in Los Angeles within the same period. Failure to do so may result in suspension. (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 9.10(b).)
Costs are awarded to the State Bar in accordance with Business and Professions Code section 6086.10 and are enforceable both as provided in Business and Professions Code section 6140.7 and as a money judgment. One-third of the costs must be paid with his membership fees for each of the years 2018, 2019, and 2020. If WILLIAM JOSEPH WARD fails to pay any installment as described above, or as may be modified by the State Bar Court, the remaining balance is due and payable immediately.
The petition for review filed on January 20, 2017, is denied as moot.