| Clients' Security Fund of Ohio 65 South Front Street, 5th Floor Columbus, Ohio 43215-3431 |
Business
Hours: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Phone: 614.387.9390 or 800.231.1680 (in Ohio only) Administrator: Janet Green Marbley |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Janet Green Marbley
614.387.9390
COLUMBUS, OHIO (September 14, 2001) -- The Board of Commissioners of the Clients' Security Fund of Ohio (CSF) met on Friday, Sept. 7, 2001 and awarded $221,497.91 to 23 victims of attorney theft. Twelve former or suspended Ohio attorneys were found to have misappropriated their clients' funds.
In Mahoning County, five former clients of suspended Youngstown attorney Richard Goldberg were awarded a total of $135,221.45 as a result of his theft of their funds. In August 1999, Goldberg pled guilty to charges that he defrauded at least $4.4 million from 23 clients between 1993 and 1999. Mr. Goldberg was originally sentenced to 41 months imprisonment, however his sentence was increased to 57 months due to a violation of Goldberg's agreement with prosecutors. He was also ordered to make restitution to his former clients.
Suspended Cleveland attorney Michael Shafran was found to have misappropriated $4,000 in funds belonging to one of his former clients. Mr. Shafran was suspended from the practice of law on May 2, 2000. Since June 1999, the CSF has awarded more than $340,000 to 40 of Mr. Shafran's former clients.
Two former clients of former attorney Leonard Young, who also practiced in Cleveland, were awarded a total of $18,432.61 as a result of his misappropriation of client funds. Mr. Young pled guilty to theft charges and on July 18, 2001 he was permanently disbarred by the Supreme Court of Ohio. As a result, Mr. Young cannot practice law in the State of Ohio.
The CSF Board of Commissioners also reimbursed former clients of Joseph S. Vala, Les Evan Rockmael, Pippa Lynn Henderson, and Joseph A. Kral, all of Cuyahoga County. With the exception of Ms. Henderson, the Supreme Court of Ohio has permanently disbarred these individuals from the practice of law in Ohio. The Court indefinitely suspended Ms. Henderson from the practice of law in Ohio.
In Franklin County, two former clients of former attorney David A. Morton were awarded a total of $36,577.42 as a result of Mr. Morton's misappropriation of client funds. Also in Franklin County, former clients of Randall Pees were awarded $8,076.43 as a result of Mr. Pees' misappropriation of settlement funds. Both Mr. Morton and Mr. Pees resigned from the practice of law with discipline pending, and can no longer practice law in the state of Ohio.
Suspended Dayton attorney Fuad B. Nasrallah, Jr. accepted fees from five of his former clients but failed to provide the services requested. The CSF Board awarded a total of $17,497.00 Mr. Nasrallah was suspended from the practice of law on Oct. 19, 2000.
A former client of Martin Watson was awarded $675.00 as a result of Watson's failure to provide the legal services requested. Mr. Watson practiced law in Cincinnati, Ohio. By order dated July 18, 2001, the Supreme Court of Ohio indefinitely suspended Mr. Watson from the practice of law in Ohio.
A former client of disbarred attorney Stanley Brown, who also practiced law in Cincinnati, was awarded $900.00 as a result of Brown's failure to provide the legal services requested. The Supreme Court of Ohio permanently disbarred Mr. Brown from the practice of law in Ohio on May 14, 1997.
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. Ohio has over 62,000 licensed attorneys; 38,940 attorneys are engaged in the active practice of law in Ohio. Less than one tenth of one percent (1%) of those attorneys are involved in CSF claims.
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.
• 65 South Front Street Columbus, Ohio 43215-3431 •