| 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 24, 2005) -- The Board of Commissioners of the Clients' Security Fund of Ohio (CSF) met on Friday, June 24, 2005 and awarded $311,248 to 32 victims of attorney theft. Fourteen former or suspended Ohio attorneys were found to have misappropriated client funds.
The CSF Board of Commissioners reimbursed $1,500 to two former clients of former 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. A former client of suspended attorney Arthur R. Frazier was reimbursed $5,000 in fees paid for services that Mr. Frazier failed to provide. Mr. Frazier was indefinitely suspended from the practice of law in Ohio on July 3, 2002. A former client of suspended attorney Marc A. Lehotsky was reimbursed $225 which was paid to Mr. Lehotsky for services that he failed to provide. Mr. Lehotsky was suspended from the practice of law in Ohio for one year on April 6, 2005.
Three former clients of suspended Franklin County attorney Perry R. Silverman were reimbursed $79,846 as a result of Mr. Silverman's failure to release or otherwise account for client funds. Mr. Silverman was suspended from the practice of law in Ohio by the Supreme Court of Ohio on May 10, 2004.
Former clients of two other Franklin County attorneys were awarded reimbursement by the CSF Board of Commissioners. A former client of suspended attorney Michael L. Moushey was reimbursed $15,199 in funds converted and/or unaccounted for by Mr. Moushey. Mr. Moushey was indefinitely suspended from the practice of law in Ohio on Oct. 2, 2002. A former client of former attorney Elliot T. Fishman was reimbursed $1,200 in fees paid for services that Mr. Fishman failed to provide. Mr. Fishman resigned from the practice of law in Ohio, with discipline pending, on Sept. 27, 2002.
A former client of suspended Lorain County attorney Michael A. Ross was reimbursed $18,055 as a result of Mr. Ross's failure to account or distribute the funds to his client. Mr. Ross was suspended from the practice of law in Ohio on May 10, 2004.
Four clients of former Lucas County attorney Kathleen Striggow were awarded a total of $18,700 in reimbursement of fees paid for services that were not provided. Ms. Striggow resigned from the practice of law in Ohio, with discipline pending, on July 1, 2004. In September 2004 Ms. Striggow pled guilty to theft. A former client of attorney Jeffrey T. Vild, also of Lucas County, was reimbursed $620 in fees paid to Mr. Vild for services that he failed to provide. Mr. Vild was reprimanded by the Supreme Court of Ohio on Dec. 9, 1998.
Nine clients of former Mahoning County attorney Mark S. Colucci were reimbursed a total of $52,484 as a result of Mr. Colucci's failure to provide the services requested and his failure to account for client funds. 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 $1,446 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.
Four clients of suspended Stark County attorney Darlene E. Odar were reimbursed a total of $1,699 in fees paid for services that Ms. Odar failed to provide. Ms. Odar was suspended from the practice of law in Ohio on March 1, 2005.
Former clients of two Summit County attorneys received reimbursement from the CSF as a result of their dishonest conduct. Former attorney Donald E. George was found to have received but failed to distribute $20,013 in funds belonging to one of his former clients. Mr. George resigned from the practice of law in Ohio, with discipline pending, on Dec. 3, 2003. Two former clients of attorney Robert J. Coombs were reimbursed a total of $95,261 which was misappropriated from client bank accounts by Mr. Coombs. Mr. Coombs resigned from the practice of law in Ohio, with discipline pending, on May 23, 2002. He was sentenced to five years in prison following his guilty plea to numerous theft charges.
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 •