Foreclosure Lawyer Mark Stopa Banned For Life From Practicing Law In Florida

The Florida Supreme Court has permanently disbarred foreclosure lawyer Mark Stopa. Stopa was once among the state’s best-known foreclosure defense attorneys. The court ordered Stopa to pay $31,620 in costs related to the Florida Bar’s investigation of him for violating bar rules.

Stopa had been under indefinite suspension since last year for his “boorish’’ behavior toward judges. He also failed to tell clients about bank settlement offers and other professional misconduct. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement later raided his Tampa area office. They seized computers and records. They soon discovered he had acquired millions of dollars worth of property from some clients through a years-long pattern of fraud and deception.

Stopa, who claimed to have represented more than 7,000 homeowners facing foreclosure, sold his law practice, which subsequently declared bankruptcy. The Tampa Bay Times stated they could not reach Stopa for comment Monday.

Stopa wrote in his petition that he has tried for months to resign from the Bar.

He is asking the state Supreme Court to either let him retire or declare that the rule on permission has unconstitutionally deprived him of his freedom of association.

Last year, Stopa sold his law practice, which has since filed for bankruptcy.