Lawyer Denies Charge of Attempted Murder

A 38-year-old Studio City attorney pleaded not guilty in San Fernando Municipal Court to charges that he tried to murder and rob a disgruntled client.

Michael A. Dorfman was being held without bail on charges of attempted murder, attempted robbery, assault with a deadly weapon and intimidating a witness, Deputy Dist. Atty. Edwin F. Greene said.

Dorfman had represented Halhatvr Sogomonian, 31, of North Hollywood in a civil case. The case was dismissed by a judge, Greene said, and “Sogomonian felt Dorfman’s representation was not adequate.”

On April 3, Dorfman went to Sogomonian’s pawn shop in the 10700 block of Glenoaks Boulevard in Pacoima, apparently to discuss the “handling of the case and possibly money,” he said. He was accompanied by two other men who remained outside, Greene said.

As the discussion escalated into an argument, Dorfman kicked the glass of a display case and began trying to grab jewelry, Greene said. When the shop owner tried to stop him, Dorfman pulled out a small knife and began slashing him, Greene said, and the two other men entered, one of them pointing a gun at Sogomonian.

The gunman twice tried to shoot Sogomonian “but the gun didn’t fire,” Greene said, and the gunman and Dorfman then fled in Dorfman’s car along with a driver, who had been waiting while the other three went into the shop. The fourth man apparently didn’t get to the car in time and may have run off, Greene said. The alleged accomplices have not been found, Greene said.

“The next day, Dorfman went to Sogomonian’s house and implied threats of burning the house down” if he notified authorities, Greene said.

Dorfman is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing April 26.