|
|
Court News Ohio
Victims of
Attorney Theft Received $930,000 in Fiscal Year 2012
By Bret Crow
November 8, 2012
In Fiscal Year 2012, the Clients’ Security Fund of Ohio awarded nearly
$930,000 for 175 claims of attorney theft, according to the fund’s
annual report released today.
The claims eligible for reimbursement resulted from the dishonest
conduct of 60 attorneys. The fund’s Board of Commissioners also
determined that four attorney fee applications were eligible for
reimbursement of $1,030 in attorney fees.
“As indicated in this report, the Clients’ Security Fund continues to
achieve its goal of providing assistance to clients financially harmed
by the dishonest conduct of licensed Ohio attorneys,” said CSF
Administrator Janet Green Marbley. “This report confirms the fact that
the overwhelming majority of Ohio lawyers observe high standards of
integrity when entrusted with law-client money or property. The
dishonest acts of a few, however, can affect the public’s image and
confidence in the legal profession as a whole. The Clients’ Security
Fund seeks to restore confidence in the legal profession by reimbursing
law clients for losses sustained as a result of the dishonest conduct
of their attorneys.”
Other statistics from the report include:
172 claimants received 100 percent reimbursement of their losses.
45 claims were ruled ineligible.
4 claimants received the maximum ($75,000) award amount.
The fund seeks to support public confidence in the legal profession by
reimbursing law clients for losses sustained as a result of the
dishonest conduct of their attorneys. The attorneys who were cited for
dishonest conduct represent less than 1 percent of the 43,650 active
Ohio attorneys.
The fund – created in 1985 by Gov. Bar R. VIII of the Supreme Court
Rules for the Government of the Bar – is supported entirely from the
Attorney Registration Fund, and does not receive any tax revenues.
Since its inception, the fund has allocated more than $17.3 million to
2,251 former law clients.
|
|
|
|
