SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A California attorney who achieved national notoriety for advising clients to break into and reoccupy their foreclosed homes is facing the loss of his law license.
The State Bar of California announced Thursday that it’s recommending the disbarment of Michael T. Pines after he refused to participate in the agency’s disciplinary proceedings against him. A State Bar judge said she would have recommended disbarment even had Pines tried to defend himself.
His case now goes before the California Supreme Court, which upholds the majority of State Bar disbarment recommendations.
The State Bar judge said Pines used his clients to gain national attention for himself. He would often invite the media to witness his clients’ breaking into their foreclosed homes. The bar temporarily suspended his license last year.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.
