Foreclosure Defense Lawyer Mark Stopa Needs Mental Health Therapy

Judge Recommends Foreclosure Defense Lawyer Mark Stopa Get 1-Year Suspension And Mental Health Counseling

Pinellas County Judge Linda Allan has stopped short of calling for disbarment of local foreclosure defense lawyer Mark Stopa. Judge Allan recommended Stopa be suspended for a year and limited to appellate work for an additional year. In addition, she is recommending he undergo a year of mental health counseling.

Judge Allan, cited Stopa’s angry outbursts against some trial judges that they threw him out of their courtrooms.

However, Allan also heard from appellate judges who called Stopa a well-prepared, intelligent attorney.

Judge Allan wrote in her report:

The Florida Bar has recommended disbarment as the appropriate sanction.  The Referee understands this perspective, particularly in light of (Stopa’s) persistence in blaming others and resistance to acknowledge the wrongful nature of his belligerent and angry conduct toward judges and others. However, the Referee believes that an attorney of (Stopa’s) legal talent, intellectual abilities, and many well-served clients deserve a structured opportunity for rehabilitation.

Both the Bar and Stopa have 60 days to decide if they will appeal the proposed penalty. The Bar hasn’t said what it plans.

Stopa claims he will appeal:

The ruling overlooks mountains of exculpatory and mitigating evidence and makes findings for which there is no evidence at all.

The final decision is up to the Florida Supreme Court. If it decides to suspend or even disbar Stopa, it would give him a deadline to inform his clients to find new counsel.

Read more at MFI-Miami