| 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. 10, 2004) -- The Board of Commissioners of the Clients' Security Fund of Ohio (CSF) met on Friday, Sept. 10, 2004 and awarded $108,403.17 to 21 victims of attorney theft. Sixteen former or suspended Ohio attorneys were found to have misappropriated client funds.
The CSF Board of Commissioners awarded reimbursement to former clients of two Franklin County attorneys. A former client of Howard Hackman was awarded $13,668 as a result of his conversion of the client's settlement proceeds. Mr. Hackman resigned from the practice of law with discipline pending on March 29, 2004. A former client of suspended attorney Randall C. Treneff was reimbursed $3,000 as a result of Mr. Treneff's failure to provide the services requested. Mr. Treneff was suspended from the practice of law in Ohio on March 13, 2003.
A former client of Butler County attorney Michael S. Conese was reimbursed $1,000 in funds converted by Mr. Conese. Mr. Conese resigned from the practice of law in Ohio on May 17, 2003 following a previous suspension on Oct. 2, 2002.
A former client of Cuyahoga County attorney Eunice A. Clavner was reimbursed $500 in legal fees paid for services that Ms. Clavner failed to provide. Ms. Clavner was indefinitely suspended from the practice of law in Ohio on May 16, 2003.
A former client of Jefferson County attorney James McKenna was reimbursed $7,020 in funds unaccounted for by Mr. McKenna. Mr. McKenna passed away in 2000.
Former clients of three Hamilton County attorneys were also determined to be eligible for reimbursement from the CSF. A former client of disbarred attorney R. Bruce Selnick was reimbursed $3,000 as a result of Mr. Selnick's failure to provide the legal services requested. Two former clients of disbarred attorney William M. Al'Uqdah were reimbursed a total of $3,925 paid for services that Mr. Al'Uqdah failed to provide. A former client of disbarred attorney Paul M. Weaver, III was reimbursed $750 paid to Mr. Weaver for services that he failed to provide.
A former client of Mahoning County attorney E. Winther McCroom was reimbursed $8,000 in legal fees paid to Mr. McCroom for services that he failed to provide. Mr. McCroom resigned from the practice of law with discipline pending on March 29, 2004.
Four former clients of Richland County attorney Barry F. Brickley were reimbursed $2,530.00 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. Two former clients of Douglas R. Sexton, also of Richland County, were reimbursed a total of $3,800 in client funds converted by Mr. Sexton. Mr. Sexton is now deceased, but prior to his death he was suspended from the practice of law on July 18, 2001.
A former client of Charles J. Lantz was reimbursed $8,000 as a result of Lantz's failure to provide the legal services requested. Mr. Lantz practiced law in Lancaster, Ohio (Fairfield County). By order dated May 1, 2002, the Supreme Court of Ohio indefinitely suspended Mr. Lantz from the practice of law in Ohio. Mr. Lantz passed away on May 13, 2004.
Two former clients of suspended attorney Paul F. Meyerhoefer of Huron County were reimbursed $2,500 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.
A former client of suspended Stark County attorney Patrick L. McKinney was reimbursed $710 in fees paid for services that were not provided. Mr. McKinney was suspended from the practice of law in Ohio on Dec. 31, 2003.
A former client of Summit County attorney Robert Coombs was reimbursed $50,000 as a result of Mr. Coombs' conversion of client funds. Mr. Coombs resigned from the practice of law with discipline pending on May 23, 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 •