| 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 (June 14, 2004) -- The Board of Commissioners of the Clients' Security Fund of Ohio (CSF) met on Friday, June 11, 2004 and awarded $67,194 to 24 victims of attorney theft. Sixteen former or suspended Ohio attorneys were found to have misappropriated client funds.
Former clients of six Cuyahoga County attorneys received reimbursement from the CSF as a result of the dishonest conduct of their attorneys. Two former clients of suspended attorney Arthur R. Frazier were reimbursed $7,000.00 in unearned fees taken by Mr. Frazier. Mr. Frazier was suspended indefinitely from the practice of law on July 3, 2002. Two former clients of suspended attorney Mark McClain were reimbursed $3,500 as a result of Mr. McClain's failure to provide the legal services requested. Mr. McClain's license to practice law was indefinitely suspended on June 2, 2002. A former client of suspended attorney P. Michael Muhlbach was reimbursed $500 paid to him for services he failed to provide. Mr. Muhlbach's license to practice law in Ohio was suspended by the Supreme Court of Ohio on Sept. 8, 1999, and again on Jan. 2, 2004. $7,500 in reimbursement was awarded to a former client of suspended attorney Michael Dadisman. On Jan. 23, 2004, the Supreme Court of Ohio entered an order temporarily suspending Mr. Dadisman's license to practice law pending final disposition of disciplinary proceedings against him. $6,000 in reimbursement was also awarded to a former client of suspended attorney Michael Shafran as a result of Mr. Shafran's failure to provide the legal services requested. Mr. Shafran was suspended from the practice of law on May 2, 2000. A former client of suspended attorney Michael Troy Watson was reimbursed $500 in legal fees paid for services that Watson failed to provide. Mr. Watson's license to practice law was suspended by the Supreme Court of Ohio on Dec. 26, 2002.
The CSF Board of Commissioners also awarded reimbursement to former clients of five Franklin County attorneys as a result of their failure to provide the services requested. Three former clients of suspended attorney Charles E. Smith were reimbursed a total of $6,389 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. A former client of former attorney Elliot T. Fishman was reimbursed $1,375 paid for services that were not provided. Mr. Fishman resigned from the practice of law in Ohio, with discipline pending, on Sept. 27, 2002. A former client of suspended attorney Wesley C. Emerson was awarded $1,500 in reimbursement of legal fees paid for services that Mr. Emerson failed to provide. Mr. Emerson was indefinitely suspended from the practice of law in Ohio on Jan. 13, 1999.
A former client of deceased attorney Gerald P. Wolfe, II was reimbursed $1,331 in fees paid to Mr. Wolfe one month prior to his death in July, 2001. Mr. Wolfe passed away prior to providing the services requested, and his Estate was able to reimburse only a portion of the fees paid by his client. Former clients of former attorney L. Bernard LaCour were awarded a total of $1,800 in reimbursement of legal fees paid for services that were not provided. Mr. LaCour resigned from the practice of law, with discipline pending, on Sept. 10, 2002.
Former Montgomery County attorney Fuad B. Nasrallah accepted fees from four of his former clients but failed to provide the services requested. The CSF Board reimbursed a total of $13,595 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 suspended attorney Ronald Sebree was awarded $500 in reimbursement of legal fees paid for services not provided. Mr. Sebree, also of Montgomery County, was suspended from the practice of law in Ohio on July 3, 2002.
A former client of Preble County attorney Herd L. Bennett was reimbursed $14,500 lost as a result of Mr. Bennett's failure to repay funds loaned to him by his client. Mr. Bennett committed suicide on April 9, 2002.
Two former clients of Richland County attorney Barry F. Brickley were reimbursed $620.00 as a result of Mr. 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 Summit County attorney Shirley Jones was reimbursed $584 paid for legal services that were not provided. Ms. Jones was indefinitely suspended from the practice of law in Ohio on April 9, 2003.
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 •