| 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 (Dec. 27, 2004) -- The Board of Commissioners of the Clients' Security Fund of Ohio (CSF) met on Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2004 and awarded $597,905.50 to 21 victims of attorney theft. Fourteen former or suspended Ohio attorneys were found to have misappropriated client funds.
The CSF Board of Commissioners awarded a total of $375,000 in reimbursement to six former clients of former Butler County attorney James Dodge. Mr. Dodge resigned from the practice of law in Ohio on Dec. 12, 2003 following his conviction for fraud and theft on Sept. 29, 2003.
A former client of suspended Brown County attorney Edward Harp was reimbursed $500 in fees paid for services that were not provided. 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 three Cuyahoga County attorneys were reimbursed by the Clients' Security Fund of Ohio. A former client of deceased attorney Steven Howland was reimbursed $3,400 in legal fees paid for services that Mr. Howland failed to provide. Mr. Howland passed away on Dec. 26, 2000. A former client of former attorney Dale Harriet Washington was reimbursed $825.00 in legal fees paid for services that Ms. Washington failed to provide. Ms. Washington was indefinitely suspended from the practice of law in Ohio on Dec. 18, 2002. Two former clients of suspended attorney Michael F. Dadisman were awarded a total of $45,976.00 as a result of his dishonest conduct. Mr. Dadisman was suspended from the practice of law in Ohio on July 12, 2004 following his felony conviction.
A former client of disbarred Hamilton County attorney William M. Al'Uqdah was reimbursed $1,500 paid for services that Mr. Al'Uqdah failed to provide. Mr. Al'Uqdah was permanently disbarred from the practice of law in Ohio by the Supreme Court of Ohio on Aug. 6, 2003.
Two former clients of suspended attorney Paul F. Meyerhoefer of Huron County were reimbursed $8,700 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 Lorain County attorney Michael A. Ross was reimbursed $50,000 as a result of Mr. Ross' conversion of client funds. Mr. Ross' license to practice law was suspended on May 10, 2004.
A former client of Lucas County attorney Kathleen Striggow was reimbursed $75,000 as a result of Ms. Striggow's conversion of client funds. In July, 2004 Ms. Striggow pled guilty to aggravated theft and is currently serving a two-year prison sentence. She subsequently surrendered her license to practice law on Sept. 21, 2004.
A former client of Mahoning County attorney Richard Goldberg was reimbursed $5,669.50 as a result of Mr. Goldberg's failure to distribute a judgment obtained on behalf of the client. In August 1999, Goldberg pled guilty to charges that he defrauded at least $4.4 million from 23 clients between 1993 and 1999. Mr. Goldberg was sentenced to 41 months imprisonment and was also ordered to make restitution to his former clients. Mr. Goldberg was permanently disbarred from the practice of law in Ohio on Feb. 27, 2002.
A former client of disbarred Montgomery County attorney Fuad B. Nasrallah, Jr. was reimbursed $2,600.00 in legal fees paid for services that Mr. Nasrallah failed to provide. Mr. Nasrallah was permanently disbarred by the Supreme Court of Ohio on Jan. 16, 2002.
A former client of Richland County attorney Barry F. Brickley was reimbursed $3,800.00 as a result of Mr. Brickley's dishonest conduct. Mr. Brickley's license to practice law was indefinitely suspended by the Supreme Court of Ohio on Dec. 4, 2002.
A former client of Summit County attorney John T. Waller was reimbursed $1,135 in legal fees paid for services that Mr. Waller did not provide prior to his death on Feb. 9, 2003.
A former client of Van Wert County attorney George F. Crummey was reimbursed $23,500 as a result of Mr. Crummey's conversion of client funds. Mr. Crummey resigned from the practice of law in Ohio, with discipline pending, on Nov. 14, 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 •