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The Board of Commissioners of the Clients’ Security Fund of Ohio (CSF) awarded $225,527 to 33 victims of attorney theft at its meeting Friday, March 7, in Columbus. Sixteen former or suspended Ohio attorneys were found to have misappropriated client funds.
More information about the disciplinary cases against some of these attorneys is available on the Court’s online docket at: http://www.sconet.state.oh.us/clerk_of_court/ecms/searchbypartyname.asp.
Ashtabula County
The board reimbursed $6,000 to a former client of former Ashtabula County attorney James M. Lemieux. The board found that Mr. Lemieux settled a claim on behalf of his client but failed to distribute the settlement proceeds to his client. Mr. Lemieux resigned from the practice of law with discipline pending on Aug. 3, 2006.
Butler County
The board determined that former clients of two Butler County attorneys were eligible for reimbursement. A former client of former attorney Christian Dean Rothermel was reimbursed $13,000 in funds loaned to Mr. Rothermel during the course of his representation. Mr. Rothermel was permanently disbarred from the practice of law in Ohio on Feb. 7, 2007.
Five former clients of deceased attorney Herbert Vincent Walsh were reimbursed a total of $5,400 after a determination that Mr. Walsh failed to render the services requested prior to his death on Oct. 9, 2006.
Cuyahoga County
The Board determined that former clients of eight Cuyahoga County attorneys were eligible for reimbursement. A former client of former attorney Alan S. Belkin was reimbursed $1,500 as a result of Mr. Belkin’s failure to provide the services requested. Mr. Belkin resigned from the practice of law in Ohio, with discipline pending, on Aug. 15, 2002.
A former client of suspended attorney Renee Scott-Chestang was reimbursed $850. The Board determined that Ms. 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 May 9, 2007.
A former client of former attorney Steven Isaac Helfgott was reimbursed $1,500 as a result of Mr. Helfgott’s failure to provide the services requested. Mr. Helfgott was permanently disbarred from the practice of law in Ohio on June 6, 2006.
A former client of suspended attorney Aziza D. Jimerson was reimbursed $2,500 as a result of Ms. Jimerson’s failure to provide the services requested. Ms. Jimerson was suspended from the practice of law in Ohio on May 30, 2007.
Eight former clients of former attorney Alexander Jurczenko were reimbursed a total of $187,159 in losses sustained as a result of Mr. Jurczenko’s failure to distribute or otherwise account for client funds deposited with him. Mr. Jurczenko was permanently disbarred from the practice of law in Ohio on July 25, 2007.
A former client of suspended attorney Joan Allen Kodish was reimbursed $950 as a result of Ms. Kodish’s failure to provide the services requested. Ms. Kodish was suspended from the practice of law in Ohio on Aug. 23, 2006.
Five former clients of former attorney John Albert Lord were reimbursed a total of $1,780 as a result of Mr. Lord’s failure to provide the services requested. Mr. Lord was permanently disbarred from the practice of law in Ohio on Aug. 29, 2007.
Two former clients of former attorney Richard F. Smith Jr. were reimbursed a total of $1,029 in fees paid for services that Mr. Smith did not provide. Mr. Smith was permanently disbarred from the practice of law in Ohio on Aug. 29, 2007.
Erie County
A former client of suspended attorney Richard Huber was awarded $950 after the CSF Board of Commissioners found that Mr. Huber failed to provide the services requested by his client. On March 22, 2006, Mr. Huber was suspended from the practice of law for one year.
Franklin County
The board determined that former clients of two Franklin County attorneys were eligible for reimbursement. A former client of deceased attorney Louis W. Cennamo was reimbursed $409 in legal fees paid for services that Mr. Cennamo failed to provide. Mr. Cennamo’s death occurred on Sept. 19, 2006.
A former client of suspended attorney Mary Ann Torian was reimbursed $500 in legal fees paid for services that Ms. Torian failed to provide. Ms. Torian was indefinitely suspended from the practice of law in Ohio on July 13, 2005.
Lucas County
Two former clients of suspended attorney Jeffrey T. Lowden were reimbursed a total of $500 as a result of Mr. Lowden’s failure to provide the services requested. Mr. Lowden was suspended from the practice of law in Ohio on Feb. 6, 2006.
Mahoning County
A former client of former attorney Edward F. Sturgeon was reimbursed $1,500 as a result of Mr. Sturgeon’s failure to provide the services requested. Mr. Sturgeon was permanently disbarred from the practice of law in Ohio on Nov. 15, 2006.
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 35,000 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 at 614.387.9390 or toll-free in Ohio at 1.800.231.1680.
Contact: Chris Davey at 614.387.9250.