| 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 5, 2004) -- The Board of Commissioners of the Clients' Security Fund of Ohio (CSF) met on Friday, March 5, 2004 and awarded $262,769 to 27 victims of attorney theft. Seventeen former or suspended Ohio attorneys were found to have misappropriated client funds.
A client of former Ashtabula County attorney Michael A. Mirando was reimbursed $2,000 as a result of Mr. Mirando's misappropriation of settlement funds. Mr. Mirando resigned from the practice of law in Ohio, with discipline pending, on May 7, 2003.
Former clients of four Cuyahoga County attorneys received reimbursement from the CSF as a result of thefts committed by their attorneys. Deceased attorney Gregory W. Demer was found to have misappropriated $2,145 in settlement funds belonging to one of his former clients. A former client of Attorney Daniel Todt was reimbursed $50,000 misappropriated from a trust fund belonging to the client. Mr. Todt, who is now deceased, was suspended from the practice of law on Oct. 19, 2000. A former client Attorney Steven L. Howland, also deceased, was reimbursed $3,500 which was paid to Mr. Howland for legal services he failed to provide prior to his death in December 2000. A former client of suspended attorney Dale H. Washington was awarded $250 paid to her for services she failed to provide. Ms. Washington 's license to practice law in Ohio was indefinitely suspended by the Supreme Court of Ohio on Dec. 18, 2002.
A former client of former Fairborn Municipal Court Judge Joe R. Fodal was awarded $310 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.
The CSF Board of Commissioners also awarded reimbursement to former clients of two Franklin County attorneys as a result of their failure to provide the services requested. A former client of suspended attorney Charles E. Smith was reimbursed $1,000 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. Two former clients of suspended attorney Michael L. Moushey were reimbursed a total of $1,150 paid for services that were not provided. Mr. Moushey was indefinitely suspended from the practice of law in Ohio on Oct. 2, 2002.
Former clients of three Hamilton County attorneys were also determined to be eligible for reimbursement from the CSF. Two former clients of disbarred attorney R. Bruce Selnick were reimbursed a total of $2,800 as a result of Mr. Selnick's failure to provide the legal services requested. Three former clients of disbarred attorney William M. Al'Uqdah were reimbursed a total of $3,500 paid for services that Mr. Al'Uqdah failed to provide. A total of $57,697 was awarded to two former clients of disbarred attorney Allen Schwartz following his misappropriation and/or failure to account for client funds. All three attorneys have been permanently disbarred by the Supreme Court of Ohio, which means that they can never practice law in the state of Ohio.
Former Montgomery County attorney Fuad B. Nasrallah accepted fees from three of his former clients but failed to provide the services requested. The CSF Board reimbursed a total of $7,025 to Mr. Nasrallah's former clients. Mr. Nasrallah was permanently disbarred by the Supreme Court of Ohio on Jan. 16, 2002. As a result of his disbarment, Mr. Nasrallah cannot practice law in the state of Ohio.
A former client of Richland County attorney Barry F. Brickley was reimbursed $150.00 as a result of Brickley's failure to provide the legal services requested. Mr. Brickley's license to practice law was indefinitely suspended on Dec. 4, 2002.
A former client of suspended Seneca County attorney Paul Wesley Allison was reimbursed $15,059 in unauthorized fees taken by Mr. Allison. On Nov. 8, 2000 Mr. Allison was suspended from the practice of law in Ohio.
Two former clients of suspended Stark County attorney Patrick L. McKinney were reimbursed a total of $950 in fees paid for services that were not provided. Mr. McKinney was suspended from the practice of law in Ohio on Dec. 31, 2003.
Former clients of two Summit County attorneys received reimbursement from the CSF as a result of their dishonest conduct. A former client of former attorney Robert J. Coombs was reimbursed $50,000 misappropriated from an estate. Mr. Coombs resigned from the practice of law in Ohio, with discipline pending, on May 23, 2002. He is currently serving a five-year prison sentence following his guilty plea to numerous theft charges. Three former clients of attorney Edward DiGiantonio were reimbursed a total of $64,333 in funds misappropriated by DiGiantonio. Mr. DiGiantonio pled guilty to theft and forgery, and was sentenced to a one-year prison term.
The CSF was created in 1985 by the Supreme Court of Ohio to reimburse victims of attorney theft. 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 •