- Susan Taylor Martin
Florida Bar wants emergency suspension of foreclosure lawyer Mark Stopa
Updated: Dec 10, 2019
The Florida Bar is seeking the immediate emergency suspension of St. Petersburg attorney Mark Stopa, saying he appears "to be causing great harm" to the public by continuing to practice law.
In a petition filed with the Florida Supreme Court today, the Bar says Stopa has continued to engaged in the kinds of misconduct that already had led to a recommendation he be suspended for at least a year.
The petition is based on several new complaints against Stopa, one of Florida’s best known foreclosure defense lawyers. Among them are allegations that he settled cases without his clients’ knowledge; that he failed to disclose his ownership stake in a company to which a client deeded her house; and that he instructed one client to lie about the amount he had borrowed.
That client is currently facing felony perjury charges.
"Immediate action must be taken for the protection of (Stopa’s) clients and the public," the petition says.
The remainder and entire original article can be viewed here: http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/Florida-Bar-wants-emergency-suspension-of-foreclosure-lawyer-Mark-Stopa-_170319433