In the Matter of Deirdre Maria Stephens (two Cases)

Summary

The Court adopted the Special Master’s findings that Stephens negligently mishandled her trust account and intentionally made repeated false or misleading statements about client funds to a trial court and the State Bar. It held that the repeated misstatements constituted a pattern of misconduct, that compelled restitution was not mitigating, and that the Review Board improperly discounted the Special Master’s credibility-related findings. The Court rejected the Review Board’s lesser-discipline recommendation and ordered Stephens disbarred.