The Board of Commissioners of the Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection awarded $181,219.54 to 47 victims of attorney theft at its quarterly meeting Sept. 9.

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

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

• A former client of former attorney Paul M. Kaufman was reimbursed the maximum award amount of $75,000 as a result of Kaufman’s failure to account for and/or distribute settlement proceeds belonging to his client. Kaufman resigned from the practice of law in Ohio, with discipline pending, on April 1, 2015.
• Two former clients of former attorney Kevin Purcell were reimbursed a total of $15,636 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.
• Three former clients of former attorney Teddy Sliwinski were reimbursed a total of $2,031 as a result of Sliwinski’s failure to provide the services requested. Sliwinski resigned from the practice of law in Ohio, with discipline pending, on Nov. 5, 2015.
• A former client of attorney R. Paul Cushion II was reimbursed $1,000 as a result of Cushion’s failure to provide the services requested. Cushion’s license to practice law in Ohio was suspended indefinitely on June 20, 2001. His license was reinstated and he was placed on probation on April 6, 2009. Cushion’s probation was terminated May 10, 2012.
• A former client of former attorney Henry Novak was reimbursed $113.44 as a result of Novak’s failure to complete the services requested. Novak resigned from the practice of law in Ohio, with discipline pending, on Oct. 20, 2010.

Delaware County
Four former clients of suspended attorney Jennifer L. Coriell were reimbursed a total of $15,375.83 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, 2016.

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 $33,938.62 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 Ted R. Howard were reimbursed $500 as a result of Howard’s failure to complete the services requested before his death on Feb. 18, 2015.

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

• A former client of deceased attorney William J. Reynolds was reimbursed $2,500 as a result of Reynolds’ failure to complete the services requested before his death on Aug. 3, 2014.
• A former client of former attorney Harold K. Garrison was reimbursed $1,502 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.
• Two former clients of suspended attorney Robert H. Hoskins together were reimbursed $1,200 as a result of Hoskins’ failure to provide the services requested. Hoskins’ license to practice law in Ohio was suspended indefinitely on June 28.

Huron County
Two former clients of suspended attorney Charles R. Smith III together were reimbursed $1,306 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.

Summit County
Three former clients of suspended attorney Jana Bassinger DeLoach were reimbursed a total of $5,200 as a result of Bassinger DeLoach’s failure to provide the services requested. Bassinger DeLoach resigned from the practice of law in Ohio, with discipline pending, on May 14, 2015.

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

• Five former clients of former attorney Csaba Andrew Bodor were reimbursed a total of $4,746.65 as a result of Bodor’s failure to provide the services requested. Bodor resigned from the practice of law in Ohio, with discipline pending, on July 20.
• Two former clients of suspended attorney Timothy Eric Bellew were reimbursed a total of $570 as a result of Bellew’s failure to provide the services requested. Bellew’s license to practice law in Ohio was suspended indefinitely on April 15.

Wayne County
Eleven former clients of deceased attorney David T. Eager were reimbursed a total of $20,600 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 financed 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.