Susana Ragos Chung was admitted to the California Bar 13th June 1995, but has since been disbarred. Susana graduated from Thomas Jefferson SOL.

Lawyer Information

NameSusana Ragos Chung
First Admitted13 June 1995 (28 years, 10 months ago)
StatusDisbarred
Bar Number177006

Contact

Current Email[email protected]
Phone Number213-386-8688
Fax Number213-386-8695

Schools

Law SchoolThomas Jefferson SOL (San Diego CA)
Undergraduate SchoolSee Registration Card

Address

Current AddressLaw Office of Susana Chung, 3250 Wilshire Blvd Ste 900
Los Angeles, CA 90010
Map

History

8 February 2013Disbarred (11 years, 2 months ago)
Disbarment 10-C-03543
22 September 2012Not eligible to practice law in CA (11 years, 7 months ago)
Ordered inactive 10-C-03543
22 July 2011Not eligible to practice law in CA (12 years, 9 months ago)
Interim suspension after conviction 10-C-03543
2 June 2011Conviction record transmitted to State Bar Court 10-C-03543 (12 years, 11 months ago)
13 June 1995Admitted to the State Bar of California (28 years, 10 months ago)

Discipline Summaries

February 8, 2013

Insurance fraud conviction leads to disbarment

A Los Angeles attorney convicted in 2011 for her role in a widespread insurance fraud scam known as “Phantom Menace” was disbarred in February. SUSANA RAGOS CHUNG [#177006] pleaded no contest in Alameda County to two counts of recklessly submitting fraudulent insurance claims, crimes that involve moral turpitude. Chung stipulated to disbarment, lost her license Feb. 8, 2013, and was ordered to comply with rule 9.20 of the California Rules of Court.

Originally charged with 28 felonies, Chung, 62, was placed on five years of criminal probation and was ordered to pay $117,561 in restitution to insurance companies for 15 fraudulent claims, and an additional $235,123 to the state restitution fund. At the time she stipulated to disbarment, she had not made any restitution.

The conviction was the result of a four-year investigation — by the Alameda County district attorney, the California Highway Patrol and the state insurance department — called “Phantom Menace.” According to her stipulation, Chung paid capping fees from 2003 - 2007 to Norberto “Chito” Mora for at least 12 cases involving staged automobile accidents, fraudulent chiropractic treatment and inflated and fraudulent property damage and estimates. Mora was sentenced to eight years in federal prison. Nearly 100 people, including three chiropractors and about 90 individuals who participated in staged collisions as drivers or passengers also were convicted. According to the California Department of Insurance, a majority of the participants readily admitted to law enforcement that no accident had occurred.

Chung submitted false claims to insurance carriers based on the staged accidents and phony bills, and she kept portions of the payments made by insurance carriers. Her “purpose was solely for financial gain,” according to the stipulation.

Members of the Phantom Menace task force were able to infiltrate a sophisticated auto fraud organized crime ring operating in the Bay Area. The ring worked with law offices in the Los Angeles area, one owned and operated by Chung. Her office assistant, Ingrid Attillo, also was charged.

In November 2004, task force members acting undercover were solicited to participate in staged collisions. They were referred to auto body shops, medical offices and law offices in an effort to falsify automobile insurance claims and win substantial bodily injury claim settlements, according to the insurance department. Chung submitted claims for “victims” of the accidents, although the majority of those she represented had never met her and many did not even know they had a lawyer. As a result, she was able to keep most of the insurance money.

“Because this type of crime is highly sophisticated and widespread, successful prosecution depends upon the collaboration of many different agencies,” said Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O’Malley at the time of Chung’s sentencing.

Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones said Chung’s participation in the conspiracy resulted in the state’s automobile insurance agency being defrauded of hundreds of thousands of dollars. “Criminal acts like this cost consumers more money for auto insurance in an already strained economy,” he added.