Case Number(s): 07-C-13975-DFM
In the Matter of: Steven G. Hoover, Bar # 57345, A Member of the State Bar of California, (Respondent).
Counsel For The State Bar: Margaret P. Warren, 1149 S. Hill Street
Los Angeles, CA 90015-2299
(213) 765-1342
Bar # 57345,
Counsel for Respondent: Arthur L. Margolis, Margolis & Margolis LLP
2000 Riverside Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90039
(323) 953-8996
Bar # 57703,
Submitted to: Assigned Judge – State Bar Court Clerk’s Office Los Angeles.
Filed: January 6, 2011.
<<not>> checked. PREVIOUS STIPULATION REJECTED
Note: All information required by this form and any additional information which cannot be provided in the space provided, must be set forth in an attachment to this stipulation under specific headings, e.g., "Facts," "Dismissals," "Conclusions of Law," "Supporting Authority," etc.
1. Respondent is a member of the State Bar of California, admitted December 20, 1973.
2. The parties agree to be bound by the factual stipulations contained herein even if conclusions of law or disposition are rejected or changed by the Supreme Court.
3. All investigations or proceedings listed by case number in the caption of this stipulation are entirely resolved by this stipulation and are deemed consolidated. Dismissed charge(s)/count(s) are listed under "Dismissals." The stipulation consists of 20 pages, not including the order.
4. A statement of acts or omissions acknowledged by Respondent as cause or causes for discipline is included under "Facts."
5. Conclusions of law, drawn from and specifically referring to the facts are also included under "Conclusions of Law".
6. The parties must include supporting authority for the recommended level of discipline under the heading "Supporting Authority."
7. No more than 30 days prior to the filing of this stipulation, Respondent has been advised in writing of any pending investigation/proceeding not resolved by this stipulation, except for criminal investigations.
8. Payment of Disciplinary Costs-Respondent acknowledges the provisions of Bus. & Prof. Code §§6086.10 & 6140.7. (Check one option only):
checked.
Costs are awarded to the State Bar.
<<not>> checked. Costs are waived in part as set forth in a
separate attachment entitled "Partial Waiver of Costs".
<<not>> checked. Costs are entirely waived.
9. ORDER
OF INACTIVE ENROLLMENT:
The parties are aware that if this stipulation is approved, the judge will
issue an order of inactive enrollment under Business and Professions Code
section 6007, subdivision (c)(4), and Rules of Procedure of the State Bar, rule
5.111(D)(1).
The parties hereby stipulate to the submission of the following statement for the Court’s consideration: were the Respondent to testify under oath in this matter on direct examination, his testimony would be consistent with the representations contained in the statement.
Respondent has devoted a great deal of time to serve his Church and its various charitable projects. Respondent has served on numerous Church boards, has been the Chair of the Board of Trustees, and has served as a Church Elder. Respondent has been Chair of the Fellowship Committee, responsible for, among other things, preparing food for the congregation on Sundays. Further, Respondent has coordinated and helped prepare and serve complete meals and provide gifts for the less fortunate, including the homeless, during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. Respondent was responsible for purchasing all necessary supplies for, and overseeing the preparation of, complete turkey dinners for 150 people. Additionally, Respondent has been an adult Bible study leader, conducting weekly classes; and he has been the driving force in organizing and running an annual Church camp-out for Church families.
Every week, Respondent and his wife obtain surplus food from four different Starbucks locations which, each time, provide a total of about 600 to 800 items. Respondent and his wife then take the donations to a senior citizens’ center, to a battered women’s shelter, and to a community outreach shelter that serves 200 to 300 families each month.
Once a month, Respondent and his wife assume responsibility for operating a soup kitchen, serving hot food to the homeless. Respondent and his wife organize the purchase, preparation and serving of these meals.
In addition to his work with his Church, Respondent has been very involved as a leader in an interdenominational lay ministry to aid people who are experiencing personal crises or emotional upheaval. Respondent has also worked on home-building projects for Habitat for Humanity.
Attached hereto as pp. 11-19 are character letters from the following individuals: Pastor Steven Smith (dated December 17, 2009); Lucy Castaneda (dated March 2, 2010); Frank F. Heckadon (dated October 31, 2007); Berendina Maazel (dated November 4, 2007); Eric Stratton (dated November 17, 2007); Janice Bruszak (dated November 16, 2007); Nancy Schultz (undated); William L. Congleton (dated November 6, 2007); and Kerstin Congleton (dated November 16, 2007). The parties stipulate to the submission of these letters for the Court’s consideration: were the authors of these letters to testify under oath in this matter on direct examination, their testimony would be consistent with the representations contained in their letters.
IN THE MATTER OF: STEVEN G. HOOVER, State Bar No. 07-C-13975-DFM
STATE BAR COURT CASE NUMBER: 07-C-13975-DFM
PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND IN CONVICTION PROCEEDING.
1. This is a proceeding pursuant to sections 6101 and 6102 of the Business and Professions Code and rule 9.10 of the California Rules of Court.
2. On December 24, 2008, Respondent pled nolo contendere to two felony counts of possession of child pornography in violation of Penal Code section 311.11 (a). That same day, the court accepted Respondent’s plea, and Respondent was convicted.
3. Effective March 25, 2009, Respondent was placed on interim suspension following his conviction of two counts of violating Penal Code 311.11 (a), a felony.
4. On November 2, 2009, the State Bar transmitted a Supplemental Transmittal of Records of Conviction in this matter to the Review Department of the State Bar Court, and concurrently filed a Motion for Summary Disbarment.
5. On November 23, 2009, the Review Department of the State Bar Court issued an order denying the State Bar’s November 2, 2009 Motion for Summary Disbarment, determining that "a violation of Penal Code Section 311.11, subdivision (a), (possession of child pornography) is a crime which may or may not involve moral turpitude" and referring the matter to the Hearing Department "for a hearing and decision recommending the discipline to be imposed in the event that the hearing department finds that the facts and circumstances surrounding the felony violation of Penal Code section 311.11, subdivision (a), of which Steven G. Hoover was convicted, involve moral turpitude or other misconduct warranting discipline."
FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING RESPONDENT’S CONVICTION
Respondent admits that the following facts are true:
6. On June 11, 2006, Respondent logged on to an internet website, "Site A.’’[Footnote 1: The actual names and internet website addresses of the sites from which Respondent purchased child pornography are deliberately omitted.] "Site A" offered thousands of still images and videos of child pornography for sale. "Site A" contained the following advisement: "Our site is considered to be illegal in all countries ....if you ever have problems with police, you can always say that someone has stolen the information from your credit card and used it. It is very difficult to establish that you were the person to pay."
7. On June 11, 2006, Respondent paid $79.99 to access and purchase images of child pornography from "Site A."
8. On August 28, 2006, Respondent paid $79.95 to access and purchase images of child pornography from a second internet website, "Site B," offering images and videos of child pornography for sale.
9. On October 15, 2006, Respondent paid $99.95 to "Site B" to access and purchase images of child pornography.
10. On January 6, 2007, Respondent paid $99.95 to access and purchase images of child pornography from a third internet website, "Site C," offering images and videos of child pornography for sale.
11. On October 10, 2007, Los Angeles Regional Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force ("LA ICAC") served a search warrant on Respondent at his residence.
12. When made aware of the nature of the investigation, Respondent directed the LA ICAC’s search team to a computer he used to access child pornography.
13. On October 10, 2007, Respondent was arrested and charged with two felony counts of violating P.C. 311.11 (a), possession of child pornography.
14. Forensic examination of the computer seized from Respondent on October 10, 2007 revealed an extensive number of image files, consisting ofjpg files ("stills") and video files, depicting children of both genders, ranging in age from approximately four (4) to eleven (11) years, engaging in one or more acts of sexual conduct (as defined by Penal Code section 311.4(d)(1)) with adults and/or each other. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children identified four (4) known minor female victims who appeared in certain image files seized from Respondent. [Footnote 2: The names of these four children are deliberately omitted].
15. On October 10, 2007, Respondent was arrested and charged with two felony counts of violating P.C. 311.11 (a), possession of child pornography.
16. On December 24, 2008, a criminal complaint was filed against Respondent in the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles, in the matter entitled People v. Steven G. Hoover, case no. BA350572, charging Respondent with two counts of felony possession of child pornography.
17. On December 24, 2008, Respondent entered a plea of nolo contendere to two counts of possession of child pornography in violation of Penal Code section 311.11 (a), felonies, in case no. BA350572. That same day, the Court accepted Respondent’s plea, and Respondent was convicted.
18. On February 4, 2009, the Court suspended imposition of sentence and placed Respondent on formal probation for five years on terms and conditions that require him to perform 1000 hours of community service; cooperate with the probation officer in a plan for a sex offender counseling and treatment program; not associate with minors; not access the internet; not use telephone services for sexually oriented services; not engage in sexually oriented video games; pay various fines; and register as a sex offender.
19. On February 8, 2010, the Superior Court ordered the complaint in People v. Steven G. Hoover, case no. BA350572, deemed amended to allege counts 1 and 2 as misdemeanors pursuant to Penal Code section 17 (B) (1-5), and that the counts should proceed as misdemeanors. Pursuant to the stipulated plea agreement, the defense motion to reduce counts 1 and 2 to a misdemeanor pursuant to Penal Code section 17 (b) (1) was granted. Probation was continued on the same terms and conditions including formal supervision.
FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES INVOLVING MORAL TURPITUDE.
20. Respondent admits and acknowledges that the facts and circumstances of his conviction involve moral turpitude.
AGGRAVATING CIRCUMSTANCES.
21. Prior Record of Discipline:
Respondent has two (2) prior impositions of discipline:
#1:
(a) State Bar Court Case Nos.: 96-O-02524; 96-O-02798: 96-O-04816; 96-O-08482 (Consol.)
(b) Date discipline effective: October 5, 2000
(c) RPC’s/State Bar Act violations: RPC rules 3-110(A), 3-500, 3-700(A)(2), and 3-700(d)(1); Bus. & Prof. Code sections 60680), 6068(m), and 6103.
(d) Degree of discipline: one year suspension, stayed; three years’ probation with conditions; no actual suspension.
#2:
(a) State Bar Court Case No.: 07-O-10171
(b) Date discipline effective: October 3, 2009
(c) RPC’ s/State Bar Act.violations: RPC rules 3-110(A), 3 o700(D)(1); Bus. & Prof. Code sections 6068(m), 6103.
(d) Degree of discipline: two years’ suspension, stayed’ two years’ probation with conditions; 30 days’ actual suspension.
22. Harm:
Respondent’s misconduct significantly harmed the public, in that the purchase and possession of" child pornography contributes directly to the ongoing sexual exploitation for profit of children; the images permanently record the acts of abuse; and the continued existence of the images causes continuing harm to the children appearing in those images.
23. Multiple/Pattern of Misconduct:
Respondent’s current misconduct demonstrates multiple acts of wrongdoing. On four (4) separate occasions within a six (6) month period, Respondent purchased child pornography from three (3) different Internet websites offering child pornography for sale.
MITIGATING CIRCUMSTANCES.
24. Respondent cooperated with the State Bar by entering into this stipulation, thus obviating the need for a trial.
PENDING PROCEEDINGS.
The disclosure date referred to, on page 2, paragraph A(7), was December 7, 2010.
AUTHORITIES SUPPORTING DISCIPLINE
Standard 1.3 provides:
The primary purposes of disciplinary proceedings conducted by the State Bar of California and of sanctions imposed upon a finding or acknowledgment of a member’s professional misconduct are the protection of the public, the courts and the legal profession; the maintenance of high professional standards by attorneys and the preservation of public confidence in the legal profession. Rehabilitation of a member is a permissible object of a sanction imposed upon the member but only if the imposition of rehabilitative sanctions is consistent with the above-stated primary purposes of sanctions for professional misconduct.
Standard 1.7 (b) provides:
If a member is found culpable of professional misconduct in any proceeding in which discipline may be imposed and the member has a record of two prior impositions of discipline as defined by Standard 1.2 (t), the degree of discipline in the current proceeding shall be disbarment unless the most compelling mitigating circumstances clearly predominate.
Standard 3.2 provides, in pertinent part:
Final conviction of a member of a crime which involves moral turpitude, either inherently or in the facts and circumstances surrounding the crime’s commission shall result in disbarment. Only if the most compelling mitigating circumstances clearly predominate, shall disbarment not be imposed.
"Disbarments, and not suspensions, have been the rule rather than the exception in cases of serious crimes involving moral turpitude." In re Crooks (1990) 51 Cal.3d 1090, 1101. See also In re Lesansky (2001) 25 Cal.4th 11.
St. James Presbyterian
19414 Ventura Boulevard
Tarzana, CA 91556
(818) 343-2057; (818) 343-6717
December 17, 2009
December 17, 2009
Dmitry Gorin
Kestenbaum, Eisner and Gorin, LLP
1440l Sylvan Street, Suite 112
Van Nuys, CA 91401
RE: Steven G. Hoover’s Community Service Hours
Dear Dmitry,
It has been a banner year for our community outreach programs. We have expanded our outreach, enhanced our level of service to those in need, and have a growing vision for service with the Lord’s guidance and help. None of this would have been possible without Steve Hoover.
Steve has contributed greatly to our church’s fellowship and outreach programs. His ongoing support and commitment to the congregation has been a wonderful blessing. He continues to contribute in many ways to the outreach programs of the church.
Our once-a-month Lord’s Kitchen has provided meals for the hungry, and spiritual guidance and encouragement to those who come to St. James Presbyterian Church for help. The numbers have increased throughout the years, and many travel a long distance to just be there on the first Saturday of each month. Steve’s leadership and commitment has been a vital part of enabling this ministry to succeed.
Each Sunday our gatherings in the Fellowship Hall bring the congregation together after the service to continue their fellowship as they enjoy the excellent meals prepared for them. With the help of other volunteers, the Hoovers have organized, prepared, and served meals to worshippers and the needy alike.
Also, at Thanksgiving we had over 20 volunteers helping prepare Thanksgiving Dinner which was served to nearly 100 church members and the homeless of our community. Steve was at the very center of this worthy outreach endeavor.
I am so very grateful for all he has done and all he continues to do.
Sincerely,
Steven R. Smith
Pastor
March 2, 2010
RE: Steven G. Hoover
To Whom It May Concern,
My name is Lucy Castaneda and I reside in the city of Los Angeles. My home address is 11218 Victory Blvd., North Hollywood, CA 91606.
I have been employed by Steven G. Hoover for the last three and half years. It has been an honor and a pleasure to work with him. Steve has proven to be a gentleman and a mentor, whom I regard with great respect.
Steve is a man of compassion and integrity, qualities which I have admired. He has with each case given his 100% and worked with upmost professionalism. With each case he delivered nothing but quality legal work, which was based on strong faith and many years of experience and knowledge. Each client was treated with dignity. The practice always remained about the client and delivering the best outcome we can for that individual.
Over the years, I have learned a great deal about the judicial system from Sieve. He has been a wonderful teacher. But the best lessons he taught me are not found in books. Such as how important it is to do one’s best regardless of the circumstances in the situation.
I have watched him help his community, his church, the homeless, friends and family without hesitation. He has extended a helping hand to all individuals in need without any expectations of reward or recognition. He does it just simply because he possess a heart of gold and is an amazing humanitarian.
After all these years of knowing Steve both on professional and personal level, I have nothing but praises for him as an employer, as a man and as a friend.
Please take this letter under consideration as you review his status, I believe Steve is an asset to this society. He would be a great loss to his profession, if he should not be able to practice Law.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you should have any questions. Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Lucy Castaneda
Frank F. Heckadon
Certified Public Accountant
22227 Runnymede Street
Canoga Park, CA 91303-1021
Tel. (818) 340-7407
Fax (818) 340-7594
E-mail: frank@fhcpa.com
Mich. License #3424
Cali. License # 10183
October 31, 2007
Re: Steven Hoover
To Whom It May Concern:
I have known Steve Hoover both professionally and personally
since early 1998 when my wife and I joined the church where Steve is very active. Among other jobs there he serves as a bible study leader and as a member and chair of the Board of Trustees. He is very concerned as to the welfare of the members of the church. He has worked with and been in charge of the monthly luncheon that the church sponsors for the homeless in the area.
Three years ago I accepted the position of Administrator of our church and Steve replaced me as the chair of the Board of Trustees. We have worked together since then and he again has shown his compassionate nature towards working with people.
I have worked with him in my professional capacity as a certified public accountant and found him to be a very professional and caring individual.
Very truly yours,
Frank F. Heckadon
BERENDINA MAAZEL
4870 VANALDEN AVENUE
TARZANA, CA. 91356
PHONE: (818) 345-7915
NOVEMBER 4TH, 2007
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
I. BERENDINA MAAZEL HAS KNOWN STEVEN HOOVER FOR MANY YEARS THROUGH THE ST JAMES PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
WE HAVE WORKED TOGETHER AS STEPHEN MINISTERS AND MANY OTHER ACTIVITIES IN THE CHURCH.
I AM FULLY RECOMMENDING HIM FOR ANY OTHER JOBS. HE IS TO BE TRUSTED FOR ANY JOB AND I KNOW YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.
WHEN YOU SHOULD LIKE TO TALK TO ME, IT HAS TO BE BEFORE THE 8TH OF THIS MONTH, WHEN I LEAVE FOR VIRGINIA AND WILL NOT RETURN TILL THE 18TH OF NOVEMBER.
YOURS TRULY,
BERENDINA MAAZEL
17 November 2007
From:
Eric Stratton
P.O. Box 893
Agoura Hills
Ca. 91376
818-889-1967
To:
Whom it may concern
Subject: Letter of recommendation for Steven Hoover
I have personally known Steven Hoover and his family for over thirty years, and in that time have been a witness to countless acts of kindness and charity that Steven has
been involved in not only at the St.James Presbyterian Church, but also the community at large.
I have had the pleasure of working with Steven in a number
of those endeavors, which have included the serving of meals to the less fortunate in the Lord’s Kitchen program, and the precursor to that regular event when it was done in the Skid Row area of downtown Los Angeles back in the early 1990’s. Steven, has also been very involved in the Habitat for Humanity home building projects for quite some time. He has served on numerous church boards, for many years of which I have also seen his efforts result in increased church membership, new building construction, and vital programs to serve not only the members, but also anyone else who might have a need. I have been attending a bible study that he has led and organized on a weekly basis at our church.
I would also like to mention that Steven has for many years been a driving force in the organization running of an annual church campout that has taken on very special meaning for many of the participants, whose families have grown closer together since early 1970's.
I feel blessed that I have been able to know Hoover family for so many years, and have been able to count on Steven for guidance when I needed direction. Because of this, and his dedication to his church and community, I offer my recommendation. If there and any questions I may answer, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Eric Stratton.
Janice Bruszak
19559 Hart Street
Reseda, CA 91335
November 16. 2007
To Whom It May Concern,
I am writing on behalf of Steven Hoover. I have known Steve for over 25 years. We met through our membership at St. James Presbyterian Church. Steve has served as an Elder
and also on the Board of Trustees.
As an Elder Steve has serve at the Chair of the SECO Committee which is our outreach mission. He has coordinated, helped to prepare and sere a monthly luncheon for the homeless in the community and he has also helped with the collection and distribution of food and gifts for the less fortune in our community, during the Thanksgiving and
Christmas holidays. Several years ago the committee began preparing and serving Thanksgiving dinner for those who are homeless and for members of the congregation who would like to join them. Steve has worked tirelessly in this outreach mission.
He has also served as chair of our Fellowship Committee. Our Fellowship Committee is responsible for preparing food for our congregation following our Sunday worship.
As a Trustee he has served on various committees and also has been Chair of the Trustees during numerous terms.
Steve has taught an adult Bible study class on Sunday mornings for many years, the class averages 25-30 people per week. He has served as an Elder Representative to our
Presbytery and he also serves on several committees of Presbytery.
I am also aware of his involvement with Habitat for Humanity in the San Fernando.
I have always known Steve to be a man of honesty, integrity and compassion.
Sincerely,
Janice Bruszak
Nancy Schulltz
7401 Lubao Ave
Winnetka Ca. 91306
Steve Hoover has been a close friend of my family for many years. I am a divorced mother of two teenage daughters. There has never been a hint of impropriety regarding his behavior towards them. When I informed them of the allegations from the Daily News, they were both shocked and felt it is impossibility.
Steve has always shown a generosity of The Sprit that appears to spring from a genuine desire to help others. He has always been supportive of me and my family. We all feel very close to him, and his wife Ginny, and my daughters and I consider them part of our immediate family. We have vacationed with them, moved homes with them, celebrated marriages with them and never have I felt the suspicion that he was not exactly what I thought him to be, a wonderful, warm, caring true friend.
Nancy Schultz
WILLIAM L. CONGLETON
8133 FARRALONE AVE.
CANOGA PARK, CA 91304
tel: 818-888-8093
email: bandkcongleton@sbcglobal.net
November 6, 2007
Subject: Mr. Steven Hoover
Whom It May Concern:
I have known Steve Hoover for over thirty (30) years. During that time, we have both been active in a significant number of church organizational committees, such as Trustees and Elder (church governing) committees, and we have been active together in church-sponsored social organizations, for which we have each served together and independently as organizational officers to plan and execute the various programs. We have each served to support the youth groups in various activities, and have watched and helped each others children grow from children to adulthood. Through these activities we also have a large group of common friends and acquaintances who have observed his (and my) behavior from different points of view and under different circumstances.
As a result of all of these common activities over these many years, I believe that I know Steve very well. In all this time, I have never known, or heard of, any business or church-related actions or activities by Steve that might be considered to be, unethical or immoral in any way, or by any standard that I would accept. Steve has worked as a lawyer, both in a large corporation and, in recent years, as a solo practitioner, and in the course of his work his moral and ethical standards have been heavily tested. Although I have never been a client of his, he has described to me the advice he has given, and his rationale for actions he has taken in some anonymous cases, and in all such cases I have found his thinking to wholly moral and ethical, even to the point where his ethical and moral standards might have become obstacles to otherwise quick and easy solutions of the case.
Steve is held in the highest esteem by me and, to my knowledge, all of our mutual friends, with regard to his high moral and ethical standards, and by his spotless behavior over these thirty four years.
William L. Congleton
KERSTIN CONGLETON
8133 Farralone Avenue
Canoga Park, CA 91304
Tel.: 818-888-8093
November 16, 2007
To Whom It May Concern:
I am a member of the St. James Presbyterian Church, Tarzana, where I met Steve Hoover about thirty years ago. Since then I have come to know him as a friend in social gatherings, as well as through serving together on various Boards and Committees in the church. Steve is the kind of person who quietly steps up to do whatever task is needed. Over the years, among other things, he has led an adult Bible study, and been instructional in starting a program of feeding the homeless, the "Lord’s Kitchen". Steve never misses showing up in the kitchen, cooking and serving and making "to-go" bags on those occasions.
But it is as a Stephen Minister and Stephen Ministry Leader I have come to know Steve even better. Stephen Ministry is an interdenominational lay ministry, with individuals trained to aid persons who are going through a personal crisis or emotional upheaval. It is a confidential, one-on-one relationship, aimed towards gently helping the person find a way through the rough time. Steve had given this kind of care to several men in our congregation, when we asked him to take the Leadership training course, to help train other Stephen Minister. As a fellow Leader, I meet with Steve in a group twice a month, where we listen to reports from the ministers in the field, and discuss how we can encourage and help them if they are having difficulties.
In this environment it is inevitable that we reveal and share many personal experiences. Steve has always shown integrity and compassion, giving thoughtful advice, and, if needed, expertise from the legal field.
Our congregation is a close-knit "family". Many of us have known each other for decades. The administration of the Presbyterian denomination is democratic, with built-in checks and balances. It would be difficult to hide any inappropriate behavior for very long, especially in one who is as active in all aspects of congregational work as Steve is. My personal observation is that Steve Hoover is a man of upright moral and ethical standards, and I think all his fellow members of St. James see him in that way.
Sincerely,
Kerstin Congleton
SIGNATURE OF THE PARTIES
Case Number(s): 07-C-13975-DEM
In the Matter of: Steven G. Hoover, State Bar No,: 57345
By their signatures below, the parties and their counsel, as applicable, signify their agreement with each of the recitation and each of the terms and conditions of this Stipulation Re Facts, Conclusions of Law and Disposition.
Signed by:
Respondent: Steven G. Hoover
Date: December 20, 2010
Respondent’s Counsel: Arthur L. Margolis
Date: December 21, 2010
Deputy Trial Counsel: Margaret P. Warren
Date: December 21, 2010
Case Number(s): 07-C-13975-DFM
In the Matter of: Steven G. Hoover, State Bar No.: 57345
Finding the stipulation to be fair to the parties and that it adequately protects the public, IT IS ORDERED that the requested dismissal of counts/charges, if any is GRANTED without prejudice, and:
checked. The stipulated facts and disposition are APPROVED and the DISCIPLINE RECOMMENDED to the Supreme Court.
<<not>> checked. The stipulated facts and disposition are APPROVED AS MODIFIED as set forth below, and the DISCIPLINE IS RECOMMENDED to the Supreme Court.
<<not>> checked. All Hearing dates are vacated.
The parties are bound by the stipulation as approved unless: 1) a motion to withdraw or modify the stipulation, filed within 15 days after service of this order, is granted; or 2) this court modifies or further modifies the approved stipulation. (See rule 5.58 (E) & (F), Rules of Procedure.) The effective date of this disposition is the effective date of the Supreme Court order herein, normally 30 days after the file date. (See rule 9.18(a), California Rules of Court.)
Respondent is ordered transferred to involuntary inactive status pursuant to Business and Professions Code section 6007, subdivision (c)(4). Respondent’s inactive enrollment will be effective three (3) calendar days after this order is served by mail and will terminate upon the effective date of the Supreme Court’s order imposing discipline herin, or as provided for by rule 5.111(D)(2) or the Rules of Procedure of the State Bar of California, or as otherwise ordered by the Supreme Court pursuant to its plenary jurisdiction.
Signed by:
Judge of the State Bar Court: Donald F. Miles
Date: January 16, 2011
[Rules Proc. of State Bar; Rule 5.27(B); Code Civ. Proc., § 1013a(4)]
I am a Case Administrator of the State Bar Court of California. I am over the age of eighteen and not a party to the within proceeding. Pursuant to standard court practice, in the City and
County of Los Angeles, on January 6, 2011, I deposited a true copy of the following document(s):
STIPULATION RE FACTS, CONCLUSIONS OF LAW AND DISPOSITION AND ORDER APPROVING DISBARMENT; ORDER OF INVOLUNTARY INACTIVE ENROLLMENT;
in a sealed envelope for collection and mailing on that date as follows:
checked. by first-class mail, with postage thereon fully prepaid, through the United States Postal Service at Los Angeles, California, addressed as follows:
ARTHUR LEWIS MARGOLIS
MARGOLIS & MARGOLIS LLP
2000 RIVERSIDE DRIVE
Los Angeles, CA 90039
checked. by interoffice mail through a facility regularly maintained by the State Bar of California addressed as follows:
MARGARET WARREN, Enforcement, Los Angeles
I hereby certify that the foregoing is true and correct. Executed in Los Angeles, California, on January 6, 2011.
Signed by:
Tammy Cleaver
Case Administrator
State Bar Court