June 12, 2011
Victims of Attorney Theft Awarded Nearly $182,235 by Clients' Security Fund
The Board of Commissioners of the Clients’ Security Fund of Ohio (CSF) awarded $182,234.56 to 47 victims of attorney theft at its meeting Friday. Twenty-five former or suspended attorneys were found to have misappropriated client funds. Three deceased attorneys were also involved in claims presented to the board.
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 37,000 attorneys engaged in the active practice of law. Less than one-tenth of 1 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.Learn more about the disciplinary cases against some of these attorneys via the Ohio Supreme Court’s online docket.
The board determined that former clients of two Adams County attorneys were eligible for reimbursement.
- A former client of former attorney Gregory A. Carroll was reimbursed $1,000 as a result of Carroll’s failure to provide the services requested. Carroll resigned from the practice of law in Ohio, with discipline pending, on May 18.
- Two former clients of suspended attorney Michelle Wickerham were reimbursed a total of $2,177 as a result of Wickerham’s failure to provide the services requested. Wickerham was permanently disbarred from the practice of law in Ohio on June 14.
A former client of deceased Allen County attorney Robert B. Blackwell was reimbursed $1,300. Blackwell did not provide the services requested before his death on April 27, 2011, and did not refund the fee.
The board reimbursed $3,060 to a former client of deceased Clermont County attorney Sharon C. Baird. Before her death on June 2, 2008, Baird did not complete the services requested and did not refund the fee.
The Board determined that former clients of eight Cuyahoga County attorneys were eligible for reimbursement.
- A former client of disbarred attorney Bryan S. Freeman was reimbursed $61,455.40 as a result of Freeman’s failure to provide the services requested. Freeman was permanently disbarred from the practice of law in Ohio on April 5, 2011.
- A former client of suspended attorney Frank X. Gresley was reimbursed $150 as a result of Gresley’s failure to provide the services requested. Gresley’s license to practice law in Ohio was suspended on April 24.
- A former client of disbarred attorney John P. Hildebrand Jr. was reimbursed $1,375 as a result of Hildebrand’s failure to refund unearned fees. Hildebrand was permanently disbarred from the practice of law in Ohio on December 1, 2010.
- A former client of suspended attorney Stanley Jackson Jr. was reimbursed $7,322 as a result of Jackson’s failure to account for client funds. Jackson’s license to practice law in Ohio was suspended on November 30, 2010.
- A former client of suspended attorney John L. Lemieux was reimbursed $1,500 as a result of Lemieux’s failure to provide the services requested. Lemieux’s license to practice law in Ohio was suspended on December 23, 2011.
- A former client of disbarred attorney Shondra C. Longino was reimbursed $2,000 as a result of Longino’s failure to provide the services requested. Longino was permanently disbarred from the practice of law in Ohio on April 6, 2011.
- A former client of former attorney Henry Novak was reimbursed $550 as a result of Novak’s failure to provide the services requested. Novak resigned from the practice of law in Ohio, with discipline pending, on October 20, 2010.
- Former clients (a husband and wife) of former attorney Brett M. Sabroff were reimbursed $5,000 as a result of Sabroff’s failure to provide the services requested. Sabroff was permanently disbarred from the practice of law in Ohio on August 27, 2009.
The board awarded reimbursement to former clients of three Franklin County attorneys.
- Three former clients of suspended attorney Kenneth R. Boggs were reimbursed a total of $10,375 as a result of Boggs’s failure to provide the services requested. Boggs’ license to practice law in Ohio was suspended indefinitely on June 7, 2011.
- A former client of former attorney Eric J. Strawser was reimbursed $3,000 as a result of Strawser’s failure to provide the services requested. Strawser resigned from the practice of law in Ohio, with discipline pending, on October 21, 2011.
- A former client of suspended attorney SaKeya M. Stubbs was reimbursed $5,489 as a result of Stubbs’ failure to provide the services requested. Stubbs’ license to practice of law in Ohio was suspended indefinitely on February 15, 2011.
Six former clients of former Gallia County attorney James R. Henry were reimbursed a total of $9,300 as a result of Henry’s failure to provide the services requested. Henry was permanently disbarred from the practice of law in Ohio on December 22, 2010.
The board awarded reimbursement to former clients of two former Hamilton County attorneys.
- Three former clients of former attorney Michael E. Finucane were reimbursed a total of $17,400 as a result of Finucane’s failure to provide the services requested. Finucane resigned from the practice of law in Ohio, with discipline pending, on April 10.
- Two former clients of former attorney Robert K. Larson Jr. were reimbursed a total of $6,500 as a result of Larson’s failure to provide the services requested. Larson resigned from the practice of law in Ohio, with discipline pending on August 20, 2010.
A former client of former Highland County attorney John W. Slagle was reimbursed $20,132.16 as a result of Slagle’s failure to account for client funds. Slagle resigned from the practice of law in Ohio, with discipline pending on February 25, 2009.
Former clients (a husband and wife) of suspended Huron County attorney Charles P. Derby were reimbursed $499 as a result of Derby’s failure to provide the services requested. Derby was suspended from the practice of law in Ohio on January 17.
A former client of suspended Lorain County attorney Karen K. Meade was reimbursed $3,100 as a result of Meade’s failure to provide the services requested. Meade’s license to practice of law in Ohio was suspended indefinitely on December 22, 2010.
The board awarded reimbursement to former clients of two Mahoning County attorneys.
- Eight former clients of suspended attorney Brian P. Kish were reimbursed a total of $8,800 as a result of Kish’s failure to provide the services requested. Kish’s license to practice law in Ohio was suspended indefinitely on January 11.
- Two former clients of suspended attorney Warren G. Pritchard were reimbursed a total of $2,300 as a result of Pritchard’s failure to provide the services requested. Pritchard’s license to practice law in Ohio was suspended indefinitely on January 11.
A former client of suspended Medina County attorney Eric D. Hall was reimbursed $2,500 as a result of Hall’s failure to provide the services requested. Hall’s license to practice law in Ohio was suspended on March 1.
A former client of former Ross County attorney Rebecca E. Bobb was reimbursed $750 as a result of Bobb’s failure to provide the services requested. Bobb resigned from the practice of law in Ohio, with discipline pending, on September 24, 2010.
A former client of former Sandusky County attorney Andrew C. Lockshin was reimbursed $700 as a result of Lockshin’s failure to provide the services requested. Lockshin resigned from the practice of law in Ohio, with discipline pending, on November 24, 2010.
The board awarded reimbursement to former clients of two Summit County attorneys.
- The board determined that a former client of deceased attorney Christopher M. Steiner was eligible for reimbursement of $2,500 paid to Steiner for services that he did not complete before his death on July 25, 2010.
- A former client of former attorney Thomas F. Bean was reimbursed $2,000 as a result of Bean’s failure to provide the services requested. Bean resigned from the practice of law in Ohio, with discipline pending, on March 13.
Contact: Janet Green Marbley, 614.387.9390 or Bret Crow, 614.387.9250.