The Worst Penalty

  • Law

  • A disciplinary hearing panel recommends that Brian Bloomfield’s license be suspended for five years followed by the ultimate punishment of being required to take the bar exam again. However, the panel’s recommendation is just that and the State Bar is still asking for him to be disbarred. Ultimately, it is the decision of the Supreme Court of Nevada. (Really? What does that say about our profession that the entrance exam is considered punishment?) [RJ]
  • Speaking of punishment, congrats to those who survived day 3 of the bar exam? Anyone have any wild stories to share from this year’s exam?
  • A medical marijuana dispensary represented by Maggie McLetchie is considering a lawsuit against the county over delay and roadblocks to getting the dispensary open. [RJ; Las Vegas Sun]
  • Donald Campbell is representing a family suing Cowabunga Bay over a lack of lifeguards. [RJ]
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Anonymous
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Anonymous
July 30, 2015 3:01 pm

What is strange to me is that the standard for disbarment is higher than the standard for preventing licensure. We have to pass character and fitness requirements to become attorneys but once we become attorneys the rules seem to be different. Also, I wonder if the mpre needs to be retaken, that would make more sense. I guess the question is whether he will have moved on in four years and not be interested in taking the exam again – so the exam wouldn't be a punishment as much as a need to see commitment to re-entering practice?

Lawyer Bird
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Lawyer Bird
July 30, 2015 5:01 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Because it's pimps guarding the whorehouse. People make mistakes. He was good enough once and he's salvageable.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
July 30, 2015 5:58 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Nope, should have been disbarred.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
July 30, 2015 6:01 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Not really. Think of it this way. When you apply for the Bar, they examine you for character and fitness and may (but not necessarily) hold a hearing on character and fitness. Bloomfield will automatically have to go back through the character and fitness checks with the Bar Exam and will have to come back before the Bar (and ultimately the Supreme Court) and prove "by clear and convincing evidence that he or she has the moral qualifications, competency, and learning in law required for admission to practice law in this state, and that his or her resumption of the practice of law will not be detrimental to the integrity and standing of the bar, to the administration of justice, or to the public interest." The idea that Bloomfield will automatically be allowed to come back in 5 years is false.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
July 30, 2015 6:11 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

…..Bloomfield will automatically have to go back through the character and fitness checks with the Bar Exam and will have to come back before the Bar (and ultimately the Supreme Court) and prove "by clear and convincing evidence that he or she has the moral qualifications, competency, and learning in law required for admission to practice law in this state, and that his or her resumption of the practice of law will not be detrimental to the integrity and standing of the bar, to the administration of justice, or to the public interest."

Just like he did before committing the felonies and gross misdemeanors he is currently being reprimanded for….GREAT SYSTEM

Anonymous
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Anonymous
July 30, 2015 7:54 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

He will likely have a moral character and fitness hold if/when he retakes the bar and passes. I'm sure he will have to go through a hearing and will have more hoops to jump through if/when that happens.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
July 30, 2015 8:43 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

I think the Supreme Court will ignore the recommendation of the panel and disbar him.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
July 30, 2015 8:58 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

This news must of made attorney Stephen Stubbs day. He has multiple felonies and misdemeanors pending. I doubt he could pass moral, competency or knowledge of the law qualifications if he had to. I hope they do us all a favor and throw him in jail and make it mandatory when he gets out that he has to move to Waco…….GO Bow-Tie!!!!!!

Anonymous
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Anonymous
July 30, 2015 10:10 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Disciplinary panel is an absolute joke. This guy should have been disbarred. It is pretty bad when bar counsel wants more stringent punishment.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
July 30, 2015 10:11 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Anybody who thinks that the attorney discipline system is GREAT is either on the disciplinary panel, or just got off, like Bloomfield. Complete farce.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
July 30, 2015 10:33 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

No one said that the Attorney Discipline system is great. Of course no one said that the criminal justice system is great which led to these convictions. You want to disbar him based upon what you know about him anecdotally in the community and what the RJ wrote or what the facts, testimony and evidence put before the Panel found? I know what the RJ wrote; that's not Gospel to me.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
July 30, 2015 10:51 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Agree with 1:43 and 3:10. This panel's limp decision is a slap in the face to NSB card-carrying members trying to uphold their duties to the profession to proceed ethically and responsibly. I trust the Nevada Supreme Court will have more huevos! Why publish standards if you are not going to uphold them? Thanks to this panel, and Bloomfield et al., all NSB attorneys look like assholes, which I resent. Please publish the names of these idiot panel members, and let us know what we can do to get them RECALLED!

Anonymous
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Anonymous
July 31, 2015 3:20 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

More huevos? This was the largest sanction short of disbarment that the Panel could levy. To say that the panel did not uphold standards is ridiculous. Bloomfield was sanctioned; he just was not given the death penalty. I agree that attorneys look bad by Bloomfield's actions but not due to the actions of the panel members who made a decision. And no, we do not get the power to recall members of Disciplinary Panels. Seriously there are a lot of attorneys who no better than slack jawed bearers of torches and pitchforks on these issues.

Jordan Ross, Principal, Ross Legal Search
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Jordan Ross, Principal, Ross Legal Search
August 3, 2015 2:32 am
Reply to  Anonymous

Lawyer BirdJuly 30, 2015 at 10:01 AM – Us pimps resent your inference. I am shocked, shocked, I say.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
August 11, 2015 11:21 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

what moron said the "Supreme Court will have more huevos?" WTF does having more "eggs" have to do with this discussion??

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
July 30, 2015 4:40 pm

Back to issue of bar dues, non-function features of the website, the new bar palace, and conventions in expensive locations: Where do we get an accounting of how dues are spent? As in how many state bar staff members, judges, and board members do we sponsor for their vacations to Hawaii? Is there a detailed report, as opposed to a pie chart, reflecting what exactly is paid for with dues?

Anonymous
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Anonymous
July 30, 2015 5:40 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Great questions. Also, what happens to the thousands of dollars appropriated by the Bar from the Family Law Section? Last time I looked, it was in the range of $35,000.

anonymous
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anonymous
July 30, 2015 9:04 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

There was some kind of scandal over these same issues several years ago, and for awhile the rule was that they had to hold the convention in-state at least every other year. Ultimately, history always repeats itself.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
July 30, 2015 10:13 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

It wasn't a scandal. There was a study committee appointed by the Supreme Court in 1984 to address the way that Officers were selected, where the bar conventions would be held and other stuff. The report recommended that the bar convention be held in-state but it turned out that nobody wanted to attend.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
July 30, 2015 5:43 pm

Bill Terry is a darn good lawyer for obtaining that result for Bloomfield!

Anonymous
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Anonymous
July 30, 2015 5:46 pm

So just how many felons do we have practicing law in Nevada?

Anonymous
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Anonymous
July 30, 2015 6:16 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

all of them?

Anonymous
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Anonymous
July 30, 2015 10:13 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Some of the felons, or should be felons keep running for Judge. Keep up it Disciplinary panel and Bar President! Job well done!

Anonymous
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Anonymous
July 30, 2015 11:01 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Les Stovall…

Anonymous
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Anonymous
July 30, 2015 11:16 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

…Les Stovall? What?

Anonymous
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Anonymous
July 30, 2015 11:20 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Thanks Obama

Anonymous
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Anonymous
July 30, 2015 11:24 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

What does Obama have to do with any of this?

Anonymous
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Anonymous
July 31, 2015 12:01 am
Reply to  Anonymous

Pretty sure she was being sarcastic that the state of attorneys being convicted of felonies is the fault of the State Bar and its Bar President, so why not the President himself. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhY9Zxv1-oo

Anonymous
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Anonymous
July 31, 2015 3:41 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Pity the poor insurance defense lawyer who has Don Campbell coming after their client calling "Cowabunga!"

Anonymous
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Anonymous
July 30, 2015 7:02 pm

Speaking of the NV Bar; they "anticipate" having the Find A Lawyer function working by tomorrow.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
July 30, 2015 8:54 pm

All you Stubbs fans should know the RJ says he's pleading to a gross misdo on the notary fraud case.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
July 30, 2015 9:27 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Witch hunt. They only go after him because he has embarrassed the police. If prosecutors could nail him for a 9 year prison term for jaywalking, they would.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
July 30, 2015 9:17 pm

I'd like to see Steve Stubbs vs. Steve Sanson in the Octagon. I'd say Sanson in 2 rounds would win. Sanson is one bad mo-fo!

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
July 30, 2015 9:25 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Bro. We don't use Sanson's name on here because it appears that when you type his name it triggers his Google Alert and then we have to read is angry copy and paste screeds for three days. Don't do that to us. Just say, "He Who Shall Not Be Named"

Steve,

We get it. You think "Anonymous" is cowardly. Please leave this forum alone.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
July 30, 2015 10:20 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Anybody know anything about the status of the Coburn v. Stubbs lawsuit?

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
July 30, 2015 11:17 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Stubbs tried to get Coburn removed from the civil case but the motion was DENIED! The filing by Coburn was one of the funniest I have read in a long time. Coburn referred to Stubbs as delusional, called him a criminal, and a pathetic liar. It seems Mr. Stubbs gifted a computer to one of his employees, fired them and forgot all is files were on it. The employee held on to the computer for several months and decided to blow the whistle on Stubbs extra curricular activities. The employee asked Coburn to reach out to former BC Chief of Police Thomas Finn's attorney and asked if Finn was interested in speaking with this employee. Coburn had no knowledge about the computer but was aware this employee had info to help Finn. This employee felt Stubbs had wronged Finn and gave Finn the computer. Finn allegedly contacted the FBI to make sure he could have the computer and told them about all the intel on it, Finn's attorney asked the bar if they could use the contents showing fraud on it in the case Finn has with Stubbs…….bar counsel said yes. Finn turned the laptop over to the FBI and the criminal division of the IRS. Stubbs found out after Finn filed the fraud documents and started filing police reports claiming everyone from Steve Sanson, Mark Coburn, Finn, Finn's lawyer hacked his emails, accused the former employee of stealing the computer along with an assortment of other bogus claims. Subsequently all police reports have been closed, computer is found to be received in a legal manner and Stubbs is screwed. All his dirty tax secrets and his biker clients info were on the computer. All I can say………. there is a GOD and Stubbs deserves every bit of this. What he did against Finn in Boulder City was all a publicity ploy to get him biker clients and the corrupt BC officials went along with it because Finn wouldn't put up with their unethical BS. Stubbs brags he got Finn fired and uses that story to get himself criminal clients. Better than any reality show.

Stubbs is also facing assault charges against one of Coburn's employees.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
July 31, 2015 11:22 am
Reply to  Anonymous

Fascinating since Stubbs just won Stubbs v Finn A-13-677324. $10,000 in Punitive Damages and Attorney Fees. The scathing written Decision and Order rips Finn a new one. The decision also addresses the stolen computer- Computer was found to be wrongfully obtained.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
July 31, 2015 1:25 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Hey Stubbs,
Law enforcement ruled it wasn't stolen……end of story. You were just found guilty of a GROSS Misdemeanor. You really should be more concerned over the pregnant woman you assaulted and your latest plea deal. No one cares about some BS ruling that will be overturned just like everything else. Did this pro ten Judge know you were taking a plea on forging documents? Did they know you were called a liar by a federal Judge in Arizona? How about the RULE !! and attorneys fee's you have against you in district court? You are pathetic!!!!! Go make another YOUTUBE media whore!

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
July 31, 2015 2:45 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Fascinating and suspicious that this ruling comes at the same time Stubbs agrees to a guilty plea on another matter. The coincidence just doesn't pass the smell test.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
July 31, 2015 6:17 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

How does Stubbs get his attorney's fees, when he was representing himself? See Sellers v. Fourth Jud. Dist. Ct., 119 Nev. 256 (2003). Moreover, the statute cited for attorney's fees in the order – NRS 41.660(2) – only states, "A special motion to dismiss must be filed within 60 days after service of the complaint, which period may be extended by the court for good cause shown." Nothing in that language gives an award of attorney's fees.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
July 31, 2015 1:28 pm

Las Vegas lawyer STEPHEN STUBBS to plead guilty in court fraud case.
http://www.reviewjournal.com/news/las-vegas/las-vegas-lawyer-stephen-stubbs-plead-guilty-court-fraud-case

"Stubbs, who is a notary, admits misunderstanding the law regarding the notarization of signatures"……….BS.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
July 31, 2015 2:12 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Stubbs is a nut. I feel sorry for anyone who has to deal with this creep.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
July 31, 2015 3:11 pm

He is a nut and an arrogant narcissist. He has charges pending for assault against a pregnant woman in an attorney's office and is being sued by a family for malpractice in a tax case that cost the family millions. When there are so many excellent and competent attorneys in Las Vegas, why would anyone consider hiring this ticket troller with a walker?