The Board of Commissioners of the Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection awarded $236,177 to 36 victims of attorney theft at its quarterly meeting Dec. 2.

In all, 13 former or suspended Ohio attorneys were found to have misappropriated client funds. Six deceased attorneys were also involved in the claims presented to the board of commissioners.

Cuyahoga County
The board determined that former clients of seven attorneys were eligible for reimbursement.

• Three former clients of deceased attorney John F. Albu were reimbursed a total of $2,825 as a result of Albu’s failure to complete the services requested before his death on Sept. 7, 2015.
• A former client of deceased attorney Douglas C. Blackburn was reimbursed $2,500 as a result of Blackburn’s failure to complete the services requested before his death on Oct. 29, 2013.
• A former client of deceased attorney Joseph R. Compoli Jr. was reimbursed $1,750 as a result of Compoli’s failure to complete the services requested before his death on Sept. 11.
• A former client of former attorney John B. Frenden was reimbursed $3,167 as a result of Frenden’s failure to provide the services requested. Frenden was permanently disbarred from the practice of law in Ohio on Oct. 6, 2016.
• A former client of former attorney Paul M. Kaufman was reimbursed $2,600 as a result of Kaufman’s failure to account for funds received on behalf of his client. Kaufman resigned from the practice of law in Ohio, with discipline pending, on April 1, 2015.
• A former client of former attorney Kevin Purcell was reimbursed $3,780 as a result of Purcell’s failure to provide the services requested. Purcell resigned from the practice of law in Ohio, with discipline pending, on May 28, 2015.
• A former client of suspended attorney Marvin H. Schiff was reimbursed $2,160 as a result of Schiff’s failure to provide the services requested. Schiff’s license to practice law in Ohio was suspended indefinitely on Jan. 14.

Delaware County
Two former clients of suspended attorney Jennifer L. Coriell were reimbursed a total of $4,600 as a result of Coriell’s failure to provide the services requested. Coriell’s license to practice of law in Ohio was suspended indefinitely on May 12.

Franklin County
The board awarded reimbursement to former clients of two attorneys.

• Six former clients of suspended attorney Mohammed Noure Alo were reimbursed a total of $30,780 as a result of Alo’s failure to provide the services requested. Alo’s license to practice law in Ohio was suspended indefinitely on Aug. 17, 2015.
• Two former clients of deceased attorney Paul S. Kormanik were reimbursed a total of $28,057 as a result of Kormanik’s conversion of funds belonging to his clients. Kormanik resigned from the practice of law in Ohio, with discipline pending, on May 28, 2015, before his death on Oct. 5, 2015.

Hamilton County
The board awarded reimbursement to former clients of two attorneys.

• A former client of former attorney Ronald J. Denicola was reimbursed $5,610 as a result of Denicola’s failure to account for funds belonging to his client. Denicola resigned from the practice of law in Ohio, with discipline pending, on Oct. 22, 2015.
• A former client of former attorney Harold K. Garrison was reimbursed $2,286 as a result of Garrison’s failure to provide the services requested. Garrison resigned from the practice of law in Ohio, with discipline pending, March 24, 2014.

Huron County
Former clients of suspended attorney Charles R. Smith III were reimbursed a total of $5,127 as a result of Smith’s failure to provide the services requested. Smith’s license to practice law in Ohio was suspended indefinitely on March 10.

Licking County
Four former clients of former attorney Stephanie G. Gussler were reimbursed a total of $4,990 as a result of Gussler’s failure to provide the services requested. Gussler resigned from the practice of law in Ohio, with discipline pending, on Sept. 26.

Lorain County
A former client of deceased attorney Carl J. Rose was reimbursed $520 as a result of Rose’s failure to refund the fee before his death on July 8, 2015.

Summit County
The board awarded reimbursement to former clients of two attorneys.

• A former client of former attorney Rami M. Awadallah was reimbursed $4,500 as a result of Awadallah’s failure to provide the services requested. Awadallah resigned from the practice of law in Ohio, with discipline pending, on June 16, 2015.
• A former client of former attorney Peter F. Fletcher was reimbursed $800 as a result of Fletcher’s failure to provide the services requested. Fletcher was permanently disbarred from the practice of law in Ohio on April 18, 2013.

Van Wert County
Two former clients of former attorney Charles A. Runser were reimbursed a total of $128,124 as a resulted of Runser’s conversion of funds belonging to his clients. Runser resigned from the practice of law in Ohio on Nov. 6, 2014. On March 8, 2016, Mr. Runser was sentenced to 22 months in federal prison following his criminal conviction.

Wayne County
A former client of deceased attorney David T. Eager was reimbursed $2,000 as a result of Eager’s failure to complete the services requested before his death on May 21, 2015.

The Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection, formerly known as the Clients’ Security Fund, was created in 1985 by the Supreme Court of Ohio to reimburse victims of attorney theft, embezzlement, or misappropriation. The fund is not taxpayer funded, but is funded primarily by registration fees paid by every Ohio attorney. Ohio has more than 44,000 attorneys engaged in the active practice of law. Less than 1 percent of those attorneys is involved in claims reimbursed by the fund.

Law clients who believe they have sustained financial losses resulting from attorney theft, embezzlement, or misappropriation should contact the fund by calling 614.387.9390 or 1.800.231.1680 toll free in Ohio.