boulder city:

Council member faces Bar Association disciplinary hearing

Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2009 | 2:05 a.m.

Travis Chandler

Councilman Travis Chandler, an attorney by trade, has been suspended from the Nevada Bar Association for failure to pay his dues and faces an unrelated disciplinary hearing from a former client.

The suspension was effective Aug. 20 for Chandler’s failure to pay his 2009 bar association dues of $700, according to bar association spokesman Phil Patee.

In addition, Chandler faces a disciplinary hearing stemming from a complaint by a client alleging that Chandler allowed his patent application to lapse.

Eddie Lane complained to the bar that in 2005 he paid Chandler $4,500 to perform a patent search and file a patent application and trademark registration on his behalf, according to the complaint. Chandler wrote to Lane in February 2006 that the patent application had been filed, but two and a half years later, the application lapsed because of Chandler’s inaction, Lane alleged to the bar. Lane told bar investigators that Chandler was not returning his calls.

“Respondent failed to communicate with Lane and failed to perform the tasks for which he was retained,” the bar complaint alleges.

Lane, who went to the bar with his complaint last year, could not be reached for comment, and Chandler said he had not yet seen the complaint, which was filed Sept. 17, and declined to comment on it.

It will be up to a disciplinary panel to determine whether the allegations are true and whether any action against Chandler is warranted, Boyd School of Law ethics Professor Jeff Stempel said.

“The fact that it survived an initial screening means the bar has determined that it’s not an obviously frivolous claim, but the mere fact that it goes to the disciplinary panel does not mean there will be a finding,” Stempel said.

However, he said, if the panel finds that Chandler did drop the ball, “that would constitute a violation.”

How serious a violation would depend on how serious the panel decides the damage to Lane was, Stempel said. And the action against Chandler could vary, he said.

“It could range from a fee refund to the worth of the patent had it been successfully prosecuted,” Stempel said.

Chandler’s status as a city councilman should not have any bearing, Stempel said, unless those duties keep him too busy to complete the work he is hired to do.

“If a lawyer is too busy with the council to complete cases, he should hire help or drop public office,” Stempel said.

While Chandler would not comment on the complaint, he said the suspension from the bar over fees is not relevant to his business, which revolves around filing applications to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. He does not need a law license for that, he said.

Since becoming a lawyer in Nevada in 2004, Chandler said, he has been in a courtroom twice: Once before the state Supreme Court three years ago on behalf of a citizens petition that proposed selling the city’s land in the Eldorado Valley, and again last year on behalf of a client.

“I don’t want to take on cases other than patent applications,” Chandler said. “I had for a while entertained the idea to litigate patents in federal court, which would require a bar license. But as I looked into it, I don’t have the financial resources to sustain a patent case.

“I expect I’ll maintain my Nevada bar license, although frankly I’m not really using it,” he said.

Discussion: 10 comments so far…

By KillerB

9/23/09 at 7:32 a.m.

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Chandler and the Bar don't come off as credible here. Although the complaint was filed four years ago, the report here is that Chandler claims to have not seen it. And four years later the Bar still hasn't yet held the hearing.

Comment on that, and why the Bar primarily protects its own, Professor Stempel!

Everybody together now -- say "byzantine."
By Jean Reid Norman

9/23/09 at 11:35 a.m.

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Thank you for the comment. I guess I wasn't clear about the time elements. Mr. Lane hired Councilman Chandler in 2005. Two and a half years later, in 2008, Mr. Lane complained to the bar association, alleging that Mr. Chandler had not followed through and that Mr. Lane's application was by then expired. A bar association panel investigated and decided to file a complaint that will go to a disciplinary board. That complaint was filed Sept. 17, just last week.

I have updated the story to try to clarify this a little.
By cpo

9/23/09 at 11:52 a.m.

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I am no fan of politician lawyers, they think they know everything. However, anyone can file a complaint and get it heard, does not mean its true. I have been the victim of this crap myself. So until Chandler responds I would take it with a grain of salt. It is odd that he would let his bar dues lapse. It makes you wonder if this case and that act is connected somehow.
By adam1885282

9/23/09 at 12:24 p.m.

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cpo said: "anyone can file a complaint and get it heard"

What IS stated in the article but IS NOT clear is that the Bar preforms a preliminary review of every complaint. Complaints which are obviously frivilous are rejected in screening. So, there's something there worth looking at.

That is,
"The fact that it survived an initial screening means the bar has determined that it's not an obviously frivolous claim, but the mere fact that it goes to the disciplinary panel does not mean there will be a finding."
By magoo61

9/23/09 at 4:08 p.m.

Comment removed by staff. Comment contained a personal attack.
By figsybigsy

9/23/09 at 5:39 p.m.

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i agree with magoo at least to the failure to explain who this guy is and where is he a councilman.
By cpo

9/23/09 at 6:53 p.m.

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By adam1885282
Huh... What the .. are you talking about ???
By magoo61

9/23/09 at 9:10 p.m.

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Seems criticizing the reporters competence isn't allowed. I'll forward my complaint to your editor.
By BCDave

9/24/09 at 1:23 a.m.

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I listen to these long diatribes from Chandler at council meetings about taking issue with every item that comes before council and to think this guys legal experience is nothing more than a few years and two judicial appearances is laughable. The next time you want to give your opinion on a legal matter Barrister Travis, I will stare at you and smile. You should resign from your city position.
By cpo

9/24/09 at 11:54 a.m.

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Poorly written article, that is for sure. Chandler is a councilman in Boulder City. His big claim to fame was representing a convicted drug dealer in Boulder City, who was having their house seized by local law enforcement. Then he became a city councilmen. He was subject to a recall, but the re-callers apparently did not have enough signatures so he is still on the council. All these items made a lot of local news, in Boulder and the Vegas area. Obviously if the bar does make a case and takes action, another recall attempt would go foreword, if it hasn't already. Boulder city is known for its raucous local politics and recall elections. Their are lots of retired people and lots of time on their hands. Most are LDS and, although you wouldn't know it by the way they allow the City to spend Taxpayers money, Fox conservatives.