Victims of attorney theft awarded over $182K
The Board of Commissioners of the Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection recently awarded $182,302.78 to 18 victims of attorney theft.
Five former or suspended Ohio attorneys were determined to have engaged in dishonest conduct resulting in financial losses to their clients. Three deceased attorneys were also involved in claims presented to the Board.
Butler County
A former client of former attorney Richard Louis Crosby III was reimbursed $2,000 as a result of Crosby’s failure to provide the services requested. Crosby resigned from the practice of law in Ohio, with discipline pending, on Sept. 27, 2021.
Cuyahoga County
Seven former clients of former attorney Dorothea Jane Kingsbury were reimbursed a total of $156,737.37 as a result of Kingsbury’s misappropriation of funds belonging to her clients. Kingsbury pleaded guilty to theft and other crimes on Sept. 8, 2021. Her license to practice law in Ohio was suspended on March 23, 2023, as a result of her criminal conviction.
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.
Lucas County
A former client of deceased attorney John Farnan Potts was reimbursed $2,200 as a result of Potts’s failure to complete the services requested prior to his death on Feb. 26, 2022.
Mahoning County
Parents of a former client of deceased attorney Andrew William Rauzan were reimbursed $1,000 as a result of Rauzan’s failure to complete the services requested prior to his death on Aug. 5, 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 are involved in claims reimbursed by the fund.
Law clients who believe they 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.