Beverly Hills, CA 90211
1 February 2018 | Inactive (7 years, 4 months ago) |
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10 September 2004 | Discipline, probation; no actual susp. 01-O-00878 (20 years, 9 months ago) |
10 June 1986 | Admitted to the State Bar of California (39 years ago) |
September 10, 2004 MARILYN ARLENE MORA [#123190], 58, of Beverly Hills was suspended for 90 days, stayed, placed on probation for one year and was ordered to take the MPRE within one year. The order took effect Sept. 10, 2004. Mora stipulated that she failed to perform legal services competently in three cases. In a bankruptcy case, she filed a motion and received a continuance to conduct discovery in an attempt to substantiate the motion. She never conducted any discovery, believing it would impose an unnecessary expense on her client, and it was denied.In a second matter, Mora was retained to negotiate with her client’s mortgage lender in order to avoid his house from going into foreclosure. The client met with Mora’s employee, who had him sign a blank Chapter 13 petition, but assured him bankruptcy would not be filed without consultation with Mora. Three months later, Mora filed the bankruptcy petition without notifying the client. When the client heard about the filing, he asked that it be dismissed; Mora’s employee told him that would happen.The petition was dismissed because the court found that Mora failed to file schedules, statements or a bankruptcy plan. She never attempted to negotiate with the client’s lender.In a third case, a client paid Mora $700 to file a bankruptcy petition. She entered into an oral agreement with another lawyer to handle the case, but the bankruptcy plan was never approved by the court. In mitigation, Mora has no prior record of discipline, she acted in good faith and she made restitution to two clients. |