| 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 (Sept. 8 2003) -- The Board of Commissioners of the Clients' Security Fund of Ohio (CSF), met Friday, Sept. 5, 2003 and awarded more than $300,000 to 31 victims of attorney theft. Nineteen former or suspended Ohio attorneys were found to have misappropriated client funds.
Clients of former attorney Mary Kerns were awarded $50,000 as a result of a theft by Ms. Kerns. Ms. Kerns, who practiced law in Union and Marion counties, pled guilty to nine charges of theft, and is currently serving a four-year prison sentence. Ms. Kerns resigned from the practice of law on April 9, 2002, which means that she can never practice law in the state of Ohio.
Two clients of former Fairborn Municipal Court Judge Joe R. Fodal were awarded $500 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 $600 in reimbursement to a former client of disbarred Columbus attorney Thomas J. Foster as a result of his failure to provide the services requested. Mr. Foster was permanently disbarred by the Supreme Court of Ohio in December 2002.
Former clients of two Cleveland attorneys received reimbursement from the CSF as a result of thefts committed by their attorneys. Disbarred attorney Leonard Young was found to have received $200 in fees from one of his former clients, but then failed to provide the services requested. An estate represented by Mr. Young was also reimbursed $7,000 in attorney fees paid without probate court approval. Mr. Young was disbarred by the Supreme Court of Ohio July 18, 2001. A former client of Attorney Steven L. Howland was reimbursed $3,000 in legal fees paid for services that were not provided. Mr. Howland passed away in December 2000 prior to providing the agreed upon services.
Former clients of four Cincinnati attorneys were also determined to be eligible for reimbursement from the CSF. A former client of disbarred attorney R. Bruce Selnick was reimbursed $10,500, which was paid for services Mr. Selnick failed to provide. A former client of suspended attorney William M. Al'Uqdah was reimbursed $1,500 paid for services that Mr. Al'Uqdah failed to provide. Mr. Al'Uqdah received an interim suspension on Oct. 4, 2001, and additional disciplinary action is still pending against him. Suspended attorney Martin L. Watson IV failed to provide services to a former client, resulting in an $850 reimbursement award to the client. The Supreme Court of Ohio indefinitely suspended Mr. Watson from the practice of law in Ohio on July 18, 2001. Two former clients of Chuck R. Stidhamwere awarded a total of $7,250 in reimbursement for losses caused by Mr. Stidham. Mr. Stidham resigned from the practice of law in Ohio, with discipline pending, in February 2001.
The CSF reimbursed over $100,000 to three former clients of the late attorney Kenneth H. Inskeep of Trumbull County. Mr. Inskeep, who committed suicide in December 2000 misappropriated funds belonging to an estate and settlement proceeds owed to a client.
Former Geauga County attorney William R. Arnold, Jr. accepted fees from three of his former clients but failed to provide the services requested. The CSF Board awarded a total of $53,135 in reimbursement. Mr. Arnold resigned from the practice of law in Ohio, with discipline pending, on Aug. 1, 2000.
Former 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 $12,526 to Mr. Nasrallah's former clients. Mr. Nasrallah was 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. An estate represented by former Dayton attorney Robert L. Seeley was reimbursed $36,454 as a result of Mr. Seeley's misappropriation of estate assets. Under a plea agreement entered earlier this year, Seeley pled guilty to two counts of theft involving losses of $305,000, and was sentenced to a two-year period of incarceration.
Two former clients of Charles J. Lantz were awarded $2,750 as a result of Lantz's failure to provide the legal services requested. Mr. Lantz practiced law in Lancaster (Fairfield County). By order dated May 1, 2002, the Supreme Court of Ohio indefinitely suspended Mr. Lantz from the practice of law in Ohio.
A former client of suspended attorney Paul F. Meyerhoefer of Norwalk was awarded $18,000 which Mr. Meyerhoefer removed from an estate without court approval. On May 16, 2003, the Supreme Court of Ohio indefinitely suspended Mr. Meyerhoefer from the practice of law in Ohio.
A client of former Akron attorney Robert J. Coombs was reimbursed $500 paid to Mr. Coombs for legal services that he failed to provide. 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.
A client of former Youngstownattorney James J. Corbett was reimbursed $13,202 in funds misappropriated from an estate. Mr. Corbett resigned from the practice of law in Ohio, with discipline pending, on May 16, 2003.
A former client of disbarred Toledo attorney Eric Slack was awarded $1,000 following a determination by the CSF Board of Commissioners that Mr. Slack misappropriated settlement proceeds belonging to his client. Mr. Slack was permanently disbarred from the practice of law by the Supreme Court of Ohio on March 22, 2000. In 1999, Mr. Slack was sentenced to a four-year prison term for thefts from two estates and two guardianship accounts he controlled.
Former clients of Georgetown attorney Edward L. Harp were reimbursed $600 in legal fees paid for services that were not provided. By Supreme Court order dated April 18, 2001, Mr. Harp was suspended for a period of six months, which was stayed with six months of monitored probation.
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 more than 37,000 attorneys engaged in the active practice of law. Less than one tenth of one percent 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 in Ohio.
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