4500 Clients

The October 2016 California Bar Journal reports a disbarment

JAMES MAZI PARSA [#153389], 51, of Tustin, was disbarred June 17, 2016 and ordered to comply with rule 9.20 of the California Rules of Court and make restitution.

In October 2009, Parsa became ineligible to practice law and shut down his thriving law practice due to convictions for unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor. Even though his suspension was imminent, he continued to accept new clients – many of whom were vulnerable and facing foreclosure and bankruptcy – and accept advanced fees. He did not notify any clients he was about to close his office before he did so or let any of his contract attorneys know. As a result, he was charged with misconduct in 43 client matters including failing to return more than $120,000 in unearned fees, improperly withdrawing from employment, failing to perform with competence and committing acts of moral turpitude.

Parsa ultimately submitted his resignation with charges pending and the State Bar assumed jurisdiction over his practice. Parsa also hired an attorney to help him properly comply with rule 9.20 and instructed his office manager to send out notices to all of his 4,500 clients with active files. Many of his clients, however, did not receive the letters.

Parsa was ordered to pay $120,464 plus interest in restitution.

The Los Angeles Times reported on the case.

And this unrelated matter

ARCHER BRYANT HUDSON JR. [#92402], 71, of Yucaipa, was disbarred June 18, 2016 and ordered to comply with rule 9.20 of the California Rules of Court.

Hudson’s disbarment stems from his four felony convictions for lewd acts on minors and solicitation to murder. In 1994, he was arrested based on allegations he had molested multiple boys. After the allegations came to light, he tried to prevent one of the boys from testifying against him by hiring a hit man. But the hit man went to police, who staged a photograph to look like the boy had been murdered and buried in a shallow grave in the desert.

In 1999, following an earlier mistrial, he was convicted of one felony count of solicitation of murder and one felony count of a lewd act on a child under 14. That year, a State Bar investigator visited him while he was incarcerated in San Bernardino to try to get him to resign based on his violation of what is now rule 9.20. He did not file a declaration of compliance until March 19, 2015, nearly 20 years after he was originally ordered to do so.

 (Mike Frisch)