| Clients' Security Fund of Ohio 65 South Front Street, 5th Floor Columbus, Ohio 43215-3431 |
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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 (March 4, 2005) -- The Board of Commissioners of the Clients' Security Fund of Ohio (CSF) met on Friday, March 4, 2005 and awarded $482,175 to 27 victims of attorney theft. Fifteen former or suspended Ohio attorneys were found to have misappropriated client funds.
The CSF Board of Commissioners reimbursed $2,100 to three former clients of suspended Brown County attorney Edward L. Harp after finding that he accepted fees but failed to provide the services requested. Mr. Harp was suspended from the practice of law in Ohio on March 11, 2004. On Sept. 2, 2004, Mr. Harp surrendered his license to practice law in Ohio, with discipline pending.
Former clients of two Cuyahoga County attorneys were reimbursed by the Clients' Security Fund of Ohio. Two former clients of deceased attorney Albert E. Fowerbaugh were reimbursed a total of $125,000 in funds misappropriated from two estates. Four former clients of suspended attorney Michael F. Dadisman were awarded a total of $7,500 as a result of his dishonest conduct. Mr. Dadisman was suspended from the practice of law in Ohio on July 12, 2004 following his felony conviction.
Five former clients of suspended Delaware County attorney Perry R. Silverman were reimbursed $278,697 in funds misappropriated and/or unaccounted for by Mr. Silverman. Mr. Silverman was suspended from the practice of law in Ohio by the Supreme Court of Ohio on May 10, 2004.
Former clients of five Franklin County attorneys were awarded reimbursement by the CSF Board of Commissioners. Two clients of former attorney Scott W. Spencer were reimbursed $1,250 in fees paid for services that Mr. Spencer failed to provide. Mr. Spencer resigned from the practice of law, with discipline pending, on July 15, 2003. A former client of suspended attorney Curtis Griffith was reimbursed $2,500 in fees paid for services that were not provided. On Nov. 24, 2004, Mr. Griffith was indefinitely suspended from the practice of law in Ohio. Former clients of suspended attorney Stephen P. Deffet were reimbursed $500 in fees paid for services that Mr. Deffet failed to provide. On Dec. 17, 2004, Mr. Deffet was indefinitely suspended from the practice of law in Ohio. A former client of suspended attorney Charles E. Smith was reimbursed $1,500 in legal fees paid for services that were not provided. Mr. Smith was indefinitely suspended from the practice of law in Ohio on Dec. 18, 2002.
Former clients of John J. Connors, Jr. were reimbursed $250 in legal fees paid for services that were not provided. Mr. Connors was permanently disbarred by the Supreme Court of Ohio in December, 2002.
A client of former Fairborn Municipal Court Judge Joe R. Fodal was reimbursed $400 as a result of Fodal's failure to provide the legal services requested. Fodal served as judge from 1990 to 1996, when he was defeated in his bid for re-election. Prior to his judgeship, he spent 17 years as the prosecuting attorney for Fairborn, Beavercreek, and Bath Township. In June 2001, the Supreme Court of Ohio indefinitely suspended Mr. Fodal's license to practice law.
A former client of suspended attorney Paul F. Meyerhoefer of Huron County was reimbursed $10,000 as a result of his failure to provide the services requested. On May 16, 2003, the Supreme Court of Ohio indefinitely suspended Mr. Meyerhoefer from the practice of law in Ohio.
Two clients of former Mahoning County attorney Mark S. Colucci were reimbursed a total of $14,275 as a result of Mr. Colucci's failure to provide the services requested. Mr. Colucci resigned from the practice of law in Ohio, with discipline pending, on Dec. 2, 2004.
A client of former Miami County attorney Ronald Reichard was reimbursed $28,841 in funds misappropriated and/or unaccounted for by Mr. Reichard. Mr. Reichard resigned from the practice of law in Ohio, with discipline pending, on Nov. 8, 2004.
A former client of suspended Montgomery County attorney Daniel L. O'Brien was reimbursed $1,000 as a result of Mr. O'Brien's failure to provide the services requested. The Supreme Court of Ohio indefinitely suspended Mr. O'Brien's license to practice law on Aug. 11, 2004. A former client of disbarred attorney Fuad B. Nasrallah, Jr., also of Montgomery County, was reimbursed $2,830 in legal fees paid for services that Mr. Nasrallah failed to provide. Mr. Nasrallah was permanently disbarred by the Supreme Court of Ohio on Jan. 16, 2002.
The CSF was created in 1985 by the Supreme Court of Ohio to reimburse victims of attorney theft, embezzlement or misappropriation. The CSF is not taxpayer funded, but funded entirely by registration fees paid by every Ohio attorney. Ohio has over 37,000 attorneys engaged in the active practice of law. 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 1.800.231.1680 toll free in Ohio.
• 65 South Front Street Columbus, Ohio 43215-3431 •