The Board of Commissioners of the Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection awards money for victims of attorney theft.

The Board of Commissioners of the Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection awards money for victims of attorney theft.

The Board of Commissioners of the Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection has awarded $125,377.64 to 15 victims of attorney theft. Thirteen former or suspended Ohio attorneys were found to have misappropriated client funds.

Butler County
A former client of suspended attorney William Tinch was reimbursed $1,500 as a result of Tinch’s failure to complete the services requested. Tinch was suspended from the practice of law in Ohio in September 2018.

Cuyahoga County
The board awarded reimbursement to former clients of six suspended or former Cuyahoga County attorneys.
Former clients of suspended attorney Michael B. Aten Jr. were reimbursed $11,751.15 as a result of Aten’s failure to complete the services requested.  Aten was suspended from the practice of law in Ohio in December 2019.

A former client of suspended attorney Gary R. Axner was reimbursed $1,200 as a result of Axner’s failure to provide the services requested. Axner was suspended indefinitely from the practice law in Ohio in July 2015.

Two former clients of suspended attorney Michael J. Cheselka Jr. were reimbursed a total of $15,000 as a result of Cheselka’s failure to provide the services requested.  Cheselka was suspended from the practice of law in Ohio in December 2019.

A former client of suspended attorney Brendan E. Delay was reimbursed $2,500 as a result of Delay’s failure to provide the services requested. Delay was suspended indefinitely from the practice law in Ohio in July 2019.

A former client of former attorney David M. Lynch was reimbursed $4,000 as a result of Lynch’s failure to provide the services requested. Lynch resigned from the practice of law in Ohio, with discipline pending, in November 2018.

A former client of suspended attorney Steven J. Moody was awarded $800 as a result of Moody’s failure to provide the services requested. Moody was suspended from the practice of law in Ohio in October 2018.

Franklin County
A former client of suspended attorney Lawrence E. Winkfield was reimbursed $303 as a result of Winkfield’s failure to complete the services requested. Winkfield was suspended indefinitely from the practice of law in Ohio in November 2019.

Fulton County
Two former clients of suspended attorney Christopher W. Striff Jr. were reimbursed a total of $2,210 as a result of Striff’s failure to provide the services requested. Striff was suspended indefinitely from the practice of law in Ohio in December 2019.

Licking County
A former client of suspended attorney John I. Peters was reimbursed $7,000 as a result of Mr. Peters’ failure to complete the services requested. Peters was suspended from the practice of law in Ohio in December 2019.

Portage County
A former client of suspended attorney Gregory J. Wysin was reimbursed $3,500 as a result of Wysin’s failure to provide the services requested. Wysin was suspended indefinitely from the practice of law in Ohio in October 2019.

Summit County
A former client of former attorney Jana Bassinger DeLoach was reimbursed $75,000 as a result of DeLoach’s dishonest conduct. DeLoach resigned from the practice of law in Ohio, with discipline pending, in May 2015.

Trumbull County
A former client of suspended attorney John P. Lutseck was reimbursed $613.49 as a result of Lutseck’s failure to provide the services requested. Lutseck was suspended from the practice of law in Ohio in February 2020.

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, embezzlement or misappropriation.