Orange County attorney facing disbarment for abandoning numerous clients Wednesday, October 21, 2015 Categories: News Releases Contact: Laura Ernde 415-538-2283 barcomm@calbar.ca.gov SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 21, 2015 – Orange County attorney James Mazi Parsa is facing disbarment for abandoning numerous clients in October 2009 after he was criminally convicted for unlawful sexual intercourse with a 17-year-old employee. State Bar Court Hearing Judge Pat McElroy found that Parsa, 50, [bar #153389], abandoned 43 clients and failed to return their unearned fees of more than $120,000. Parsa accepted new clients and their fees even when he knew his license was about to be suspended in connection with the criminal conviction. He failed to notify his clients that he intended to withdraw and would not be pursuing their loan modification applications. Parsa has been ineligible to practice law since October 2009, when the State Bar Court put him on interim suspension pending a hearing to determine the appropriate discipline for the 2001 misdemeanor conviction. In 2014, he received a two-year suspension of his law license. His pending disbarment stems from the abrupt closure of his Costa Mesa law practice at the time of his interim suspension. The practice had about 4,500 clients and 100 employees, primarily handling loan modification cases. In addition to the 43 clients named in the court decision, another 1,130 people have filed State Bar complaints against Parsa. Parsa’s disbarment is not final until approved by the California Supreme Court. Once that happens, the State Bar’s Client Security Fund can begin processing claims for reimbursement. Consumers who have been defrauded by a California attorney may file a complaint with the Office of Chief Trial Counsel or call 800-843-9053. The State Bar also maintains the Client Security Fund to reimburse eligible victims. Previous Article Next Article