There’s one point in your post that’s a bit confusing. You say you got your judgment “a month ago”, and then you begin a question by saying “If he doesn’t pay me in time . . .”. The defendant has 30 days from entry of judgment to appeal. If he didn’t appeal and the 30 days has passed, the judgment is due and enforceable now, unless you left something out of the post.
As far as it going on his Bar record, you don’t mention the nature of the malpractice, but Calif. Bus. & Professions Code sect. 6086.8(a) and (b) might be instructive:
6086.8. (a) Within 20 days after a judgment by a court of this
state that a member of the State Bar of California is liable for any
damages resulting in a judgment against the attorney in any civil
action for fraud, misrepresentation, breach of fiduciary duty, or
gross negligence committed in a professional capacity, the court
which rendered the judgment shall report that fact in writing to the
State Bar of California.
(b) Every claim or action for damages against a member of the
State Bar of California for fraud, misrepresentation, breach of
fiduciary duty, or negligence committed in a professional capacity
shall be reported to the State Bar of California within 30 days of
receipt by the admitted insurer or licensed surplus brokers providing
professional liability insurance to that member of the State Bar.
There are many ways to enforce a civil judgment but, in this case, the easiest and cheapest may just be to file a claim with the liability insurance carrier, assuming that the actions leading to the malpractice claim were done in his capacity as a member of the firm he is now with. Get the name of the insurer by writing to the managing partner (unless that’s him).
If that tact doesn’t work, then you’re forced to revert to your many other options, including a wage garnishment.
