The Board of Commissioners of the Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection has awarded $240,000 to 16 victims of attorney theft. Eight former or suspended Ohio attorneys were found to have misappropriated client funds. One attorney, since deceased, also was involved in the claims presented to the Board of Commissioners.

Cuyahoga County
The board awarded reimbursement to former clients of two former Cuyahoga County attorneys and one deceased Cuyahoga County attorney.

A former client of suspended attorney Rebecca Jo Austin was reimbursed $1,000 as a result of Austin’s failure to provide the services requested. Austin was suspended from the practice law in Ohio in February 2018.

A former client of deceased attorney Elliot Ian Resnick was reimbursed $1,400 as a result of Resnick’s failure to complete the services requested. Resnick passed away in April 2017.

Two former clients of William L. Summers were reimbursed a total of $124,105 as a result of Summers’ conversion of escrowed funds. Summers resigned from the practice of law in Ohio, with discipline pending, in October 2016.

Delaware County
A former client of Brian Wade Harter was reimbursed $1,800 as a result of Harter’s failure to provide the services requested. Harter was permanently disbarred from the practice of law in Ohio in September 2018.

Franklin County
A former client of suspended attorney John David Moore Jr. was reimbursed $2,000 as a result of Moore’s failure to provide the services requested. Moore was suspended from the practice of law in Ohio in April 2018.

Hamilton County
A former client of Andrea Lynn Reino was reimbursed $2,500 as a result of Reino’s failure to provide the services requested. Reino resigned from the practice of law in Ohio, with discipline pending, in December 2017.

Mahoning County
Two former clients of Benjamin Joltin were reimbursed a total of $900 as a result of Joltin’s failure to provide the services requested. Joltin resigned from the practice of law in Ohio, with discipline pending, in April 2018.

Summit County
Six former clients of Mark Andrew Chuparkoff were reimbursed a total of $104,718 as a result of Chuparkoff’s conversion of client funds and failure to provide the services requested. Chuparkoff resigned from the practice of law in Ohio, with discipline pending, in September 2018.

Trumbull County
A former client of John Harold Large was reimbursed $2,500 as a result of Large’s failure to provide the services requested. Large was permanently disbarred from the practice of law in Ohio in October 2018.

The Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection, formerly known as the Clients’ Security Fund, was created in 1985 by the Ohio Supreme Court to reimburse victims of attorney theft. Ohio has more than 44,000 attorneys engaged in the active practice of law, and less than 1 percent of those attorneys is involved in reimbursement claims.

Law clients who believe they have sustained financial losses resulting from attorney theft, embezzlement, or misappropriation should call 614.387.9390.