And Don’t Come Back No More
The South Carolina Supreme Court has debarred two attorneys never admitted in the Palmetto State for acts of unauthorized practice.
One of the attorneys performed loan modifications services as the Pacific National Law Center
Respondent, a licensed California attorney, provided legal services in South Carolina to a South Carolina resident without having been admitted or authorized to practice law in this state, in violation of the Rules of Professional Conduct. Following an evidentiary hearing at which respondent did not appear, the Hearing Panel of the Commission on Lawyer Conduct (the Panel) recommended debarring respondent and ordering respondent pay the cost of the proceedings and restitution to his South Carolina client. As neither party sought review of the Panel’s report, the matter is now submitted for the Court’s consideration. We impose the sanctions recommended by the Panel.
His home license was affected
In February 2016, the State Bar Court of California accepted a stipulation signed by respondent for a ninety-day suspension and two years’ probation for engaging in the unauthorized practice of law in Florida and Washington. In re Naderi, Nos. 14-O-04421 & 14-O-06302 (Los Angeles, Cal., State Bar Ct. of Cal. Hearing Dep’t, Feb. 10, 2016). As part of the stipulation, respondent agreed that he, acting as PNLC, was hired and paid to complete loan modifications for a resident of Florida and a resident of Washington. Id. Respondent conceded he accepted illegal fees in both cases. Id. The Florida client did not receive a loan modification. Id.
Opinion linked here.
The second attorney had an extensive South Carolina practice
Respondent, previously licensed in Florida but not in South Carolina, entered into an agreement with a non-attorney owned company (NVA) to market his legal services on the internet. Although respondent operated a solo practice in Florida, through NVA’s advertisements, he specifically targeted South Carolina residents seeking to negotiate modifications of their home loans in violation of provisions of Rules 7.1 and 7.5, RPC, Rule 407 SCACR. Further, respondent provided legal services to numerous South Carolina residents regarding South Carolina legal matters without being licensed or otherwise authorized to practice law in in this state in violation of Rule 5.5, RPC, Rule 407, SCACR, and Rule 7(a)(1), RLDE, Rule 413, SCACR.
His fate linked here. (Mike Frisch)