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FUND HAS AWARDED MORE THAN $11 MILLION TO CONSUMERS SINCE INCEPTION
The Board of Commissioners of the Clients' Security Fund of Ohio (CSF) awarded $104,954 to 24 victims of attorney theft at its meeting Friday, March 2, in Columbus. Eleven former or suspended Ohio attorneys were found to have misappropriated client funds.
Ashtabula County
The board reimbursed $30,400 to five former clients of former Ashtabula County attorney James M. Lemieux. In three of the claims, the board found that Lemieux accepted a fee but failed to provide the services requested. In the other two claims, Lemieux converted or otherwise failed to account for funds belonging to his clients. Lemieux resigned from the practice of law with discipline pending on Aug. 3, 2006.
Cuyahoga County
Former clients of three Cuyahoga County attorneys were reimbursed. A former client of John A. Lord was reimbursed $750 in fees paid for services that Lord failed to provide. The Supreme Court of Ohio indefinitely suspended Lord from the practice of law in Ohio on Nov. 1, 2006.
The board also reimbursed $3,500 to two former clients of Winston Grays after finding that Gray's Estate had failed to reimburse fees for legal services that Gray failed to provide prior to his death on July 31, 2004.
A total of $1,895 in reimbursement was awarded to two clients of suspended attorney Renee Scott-Chestang. The board determined that Scott-Chestang accepted fees for services and then failed to complete the services requested. Scott-Chestang was indefinitely suspended from the practice of law in Ohio by the Supreme Court on June 14, 2006.
Franklin County
The board determined that former clients of two Franklin County attorneys were eligible for reimbursement. A total of $7,915 was reimbursed to a former client of Derek A. Farmer. Farmer accepted an excessive fee and failed to refund the excess amount after being ordered to do so by the Supreme Court. Farmer was suspended from the practice of law in Ohio on Nov. 1, 2006.
Five former clients of suspended Franklin County attorney Mary Ann Torian were reimbursed a total of $19,000 in legal fees that they had paid for services that Torian failed to provide. Torian was indefinitely suspended from the practice of law in Ohio by the Supreme Court on July 13, 2005.
Two former clients of former Franklin County attorney Daniel Smith were reimbursed a total of $2,000 in legal fees that they had paid for services that Smith failed to provide. Smith was permanently disbarred from the practice of law in Ohio by the Supreme Court on Feb. 15, 2006.
Mahoning County
Two former clients of Mahoning County attorney Mark S. Colucci were reimbursed $8,000 as a result of Colucci's failure to provide the services requested. Colucci resigned from the practice of law in Ohio, with discipline pending, on Dec. 2, 2004. Colucci also was convicted of tax evasion and was sentenced to 18 months in prison.
Montgomery County
A former client of former attorney Daniel L. O'Brien was reimbursed $1,989 for legal fees that O'Brien failed to refund. O'Brien resigned from the practice of law in Ohio, with discipline pending, on Feb. 23, 2007.
Preble County
The board reimbursed $27,005 to two former clients of deceased Preble County attorney Herd L. Bennett. Bennett obtained funds from his former clients allegedly under false pretenses and failed to repay the funds prior to his death on April 9, 2002.
Stark County
A former client of suspended Stark County attorney Steven Lo Dico was reimbursed $2,500 after the board determined that Lo Dico accepted legal fees for services that he did not provide. Lo Dico's license to practice law was suspended by the Supreme Court on Feb. 23, 2006 following his felony conviction.
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 more than 41,000 attorneys engaged in the active practice of law. Less than one-tenth of one percent of those attorneys is 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.
Contact: Janet Green Marbley, 614.387.9390, or Andrea M. Strle, 614.387.9250