Clients' Security Fund

14 Victims of Attorney Theft Awarded More Than $200,000 By Clients' Security Fund
Lawyers' Fund Has Awarded Over $2 Million to Consumers Since Inception

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Janet Green Marbley
614.387.9390

COLUMBUS, OHIO (September 5, 2000) -- The Board of Commissioners of the Clients' Security Fund of Ohio (CSF) met Sept. 1, 2000 and awarded $207,878.54 to 14 victims of attorney theft. Seven former or suspended Ohio attorneys were found to have misappropriated their clients' funds.

In Cuyahoga County, suspended Cleveland attorney Michael Shafran was found to have misappropriated more than $80,000 in funds belonging to his clients. Mr. Shafran was suspended from the practice of law on May 2, 2000. Since June 1999, the CSF has awarded a total of $243,587.68 to 32 of Mr. Shafran's former clients.

Suspended Cuyahoga County attorney Michael P. Socha was found to have misappropriated funds belonging to one of his former clients. The Board awarded $50,000, the CSF maximum award amount, to Mr. Socha’s victim. Mr. Socha was convicted of a felony as a result of his conduct, and was suspended on an interim basis by the Supreme Court of Ohio pending the commencement of disciplinary proceedings.

In Hamilton County, several former clients of suspended Cincinnatiattorney David W. Bertsche, Jr., and former attorney Michael M. Edwards received CSF awards. The Board determined that Mr. Bertsche failed to provide the legal services for which he was hired. $1,497.00 was awarded to one of his former clients. The Board awarded $23,359.76 to two former clients of Mr. Edwards after determining that he received insurance funds intended for his clients, but converted the funds to his own use. On May 2, 2000, the Supreme Court of Ohio accepted Mr. Edwards’ resignation with discipline pending.

In Franklin County, clients of three former and suspended attorneys received awards. A former client of Columbus attorney Lorraine T. Furtado was awarded $32,871.78 as a result of Ms. Furtado’s misappropriation of her client’s funds. On May 3, 2000, the Supreme Court of Ohio accepted Ms. Furtado’s resignation with discipline pending. Neither Ms. Furtado nor Hamilton County’s Mr. Edwards is eligible to return to the practice of law in Ohio.

Also in Franklin County, $14,150.00 was awarded to three former clients of suspended Columbus attorney John J. Connors, Jr., as a result of his failure to render the agreed-upon services. Mr. Connors was indefinitely suspended on July 19, 2000. The CSF also awarded $5,500.00 to a former client of another suspended Columbusattorney, Carl Wolfrom. Mr. Wolfrom accepted legal fees but failed to provide the legal services requested.

The CSF was created in 1985 by the Supreme Court of Ohio to compensate victims of attorney theft. The CSF is not taxpayer funded, but funded entirely by registration fees paid by every Ohio attorney. From its inception through 1999, the Fund has awarded $2,086,330.45 to Ohio consumers who were victims of attorney theft.

The Fund celebrated its 15^th anniversary September 1 with a luncheon featuring a keynote address by Supreme Court of Ohio Chief Justice Thomas J. Moyer. “The Fund's establishment evidences the commitment of all those licensed to practice law in this state to improving the status of the legal profession,” Chief Justice Moyer said, noting that of the 38,313 attorneys licensed in Ohio, less than 1% have been named in CSF awards.

Law clients who believe they have sustained financial losses resulting from attorney theft, embezzlement or misappropriation should contact the CSF by calling 614.387.9390 or 800.231.1680 toll free in Ohio.