2012 annual report - Supreme Court - State of Ohio

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CLAIMS ACTIVITYThe CSF board of commissioners held 4 quarterly meetings. The board reviewed 220claims, determining 175 eligible for reimbursement with awards totaling $929,993.93.The board also approved 4 attorney-fee applications totaling $1,030. Four claimantsreceived the maximum award amount. In addition, 172 claimants received 100percent reimbursement of their losses. The awards resulted from the dishonestconduct of 60 Ohio attorneys (see pages 13 and 14).2012 CLAIM DETERMINATIONSDATE ELIGIBLE INELIGIBLE AMOUNTSeptember 16, 2011 46 12 $443,481.40December 2, 2011 37 13 $169,073.46March 2, 2012 45 6 $135,204.51June 8, 2012 47 14 $182,234.56TOTAL 175 45 $929,993.93HISTORY OF AWARDS PAID$1,600,000$1,400,000$1,200,000$1,000,000$800,000$600,000$400,000$200,000$01986198819901992199419961998200020022004200620082010201210
Unearned fee claims continue to constitute the largest category of claims filed withthe CSF. These claims involve situations in which clients paid for legal services, butthe attorneys failed to provide them. The attorneys’ refusal or inability to refund theclaimants’ legal fee is considered “dishonest conduct,” as set forth in Gov. Bar R.VIII. Unearned fee claims can be difficult to evaluate, particularly when an attorneyprovides a portion of the services requested. The loss reimbursed in the typicalunearned fee claim is relatively low.Although unearned fee claims remain the largest category of claims reimbursed bythe CSF, claims involving thefts by attorneys acting in a fiduciary capacity resultedin the largest dollar amount of losses reimbursed. The board reimbursed nearly$342,000 to claimants in this category.2012 THEFT CATEGORIESCATEGORY OF CLIENT LOSS AWARDS TOTALTheft by Fiduciary 16 $341,990.48Settlement Thefts 5 $109,939.21Estate Thefts 1 $75,000.00Theft by Deception 4 $82,139.90Unearned Fees 149 $320,924.34TOTAL 175 $929,993.93THEFT CATEGORIES$320,924.34, 34%$75,000.00,8%$341,990.48, 37%EstateFiduciarySettlement Theft$82,139.90,9%$109,939.21,12%Theft by DeceptionUnearned Fees11
Page 1: 2012 annual reportClients’ Securi
Page 4 and 5: Clients’ Security Fund of OhioJER
Page 7: INTRODUCTIONThe Clients’ Security
Page 10 and 11: BOARD OF COMMISSIONERSMEMBERSCUNIJO
Page 12 and 13: REVENUEATTORNEY REGISTRATION FEESEv
Page 14 and 15: CLAIMS PROCEDUREINTAKE AND EVALUATI
Page 19 and 20: AWARDS BY DISCIPLINED OR DECEASED A
Page 21: CONCLUSIONThis report confirms that
Page 24 and 25: OHIO LAWYERS INVOLVED IN AWARDS SIN
Page 37 and 38: APPENDIX BCLIENTS’ SECURITY FUND
Page 39: AFFIRMATIVE ACTION14) Have you repo
Page 42 and 43: and no-front-end-load money market
Page 44 and 45: is made, the date of the alleged wr
Page 46 and 47: FORMER COMMISSIONERSCLIENTS’ SECU
Page 48: The Supreme Court of OhioClients’

2012 annual report - Supreme Court - State of Ohio

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