The Board of Commissioners of the Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection recently awarded $20,365.41 to eight victims of attorney theft.

One former Ohio attorney and two suspended attorneys were found to have failed to refund unearned fees. A claim filed after the death of one attorney was also presented to the Board.

Cuyahoga County
The Board awarded reimbursement to former clients of one former and one suspended Cuyahoga attorney.

A former client of former attorney Sean Richard Porter was reimbursed $3,490 as a result of Porter’s failure to complete the services requested.  Porter resigned from the practice of law in Ohio with discipline pending, on Oct. 28, 2022.

Four former clients of suspended attorney Gary Allen Vick, Jr. were reimbursed a total of $10,500 as a result of Vick’s failure to provide the services requested. Following his felony conviction, Vick was suspended from the practice of law in Ohio on Feb. 2, 2023.

Hamilton County
A former client of deceased attorney Gary Russell Lewis is eligible for reimbursement in the amount of $3,575.41 as a result of Lewis’ failure to complete the services prior to his death on Dec. 6, 2021.

Summit County
Two former clients of suspended attorney Steven Scott Fannin were reimbursed a total of $2,800 as a result of Fannin’s failure to provide the services requested. Fannin was suspended from the practice of law in Ohio, on an interim basis, on Sept. 14, 2021.

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.

Ohio has over 45,000 attorneys engaged in the active practice of law. Less than one percent 1% are 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.