The Board of Commissioners of the Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection awarded $243,385 to 50 victims of attorney theft at its quarterly meeting June 28. Four former or suspended Ohio attorneys were found to have misappropriated client funds. Two deceased attorneys were also involved in claims.

Two former clients of Delaware County attorney Jennifer L. Coriell were reimbursed a total of $8,000 as a result of Coriell’s failure to provide the services requested. Coriell resigned from the practice of law in Ohio, with discipline pending, on Dec. 16.

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

• Thirty-five former wards of deceased attorney Paul S. Kormanik were reimbursed a total of $201,910 as a result of Kormanik’s misappropriation of funds while serving as guardian. Kormanik resigned from the practice of law in Ohio, with disciplinary action pending, on May 28, 2015. Earlier that year, Kormanik pleaded guilty to four counts of theft from an elderly or disabled person and one count of theft. Kormanik died on Oct. 5, 2015.
• Ten former clients of former attorney Joseph D. Reed were reimbursed a total of $24,510 as a result of Reed’s failure to provide the services requested. Reed resigned from the practice of law, with discipline pending, on April 12.

One former client of suspended Huron County attorney Charles R. Smith III was reimbursed $650 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, 2016.

A former client of former Lake County attorney David H. Davies was reimbursed $7,455 as a result of Davies’ failure to account for client funds deposited with him. Davies was permanently disbarred from the practice of law in Ohio on Dec. 1, 2015.

A former client of deceased Paulding County attorney Erwin J. Bandy was reimbursed $860 as a result of Bandy’s failure to complete the services requested before his death on April 24, 2015.

Financed primarily by registration fees paid by every Ohio attorney, the fund was created by the Supreme Court in 1985. Ohio has more than 44,000 active-status attorneys with only a fraction involved in claims. Clients who believe they have sustained financial losses resulting from attorney theft, embezzlement, or misappropriation should contact the fund at 1.800.231.1680.