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Victims of attorney theft awarded more than $200K from lawyers' fund

ANNE YEAGER

Supreme Court

Public Information Office

Published: September 14, 2018

The Board of Commissioners of the Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection has awarded $208,525 to 14 victims of attorney theft during its board meeting Friday in Columbus. Four former or suspended Ohio attorneys were found to have misappropriated client funds. Three attorneys, since deceased, also were involved in the claims presented to the board of commissioners.

Cuyahoga County

The board awarded reimbursement to former clients of one former Cuyahoga County attorney and two deceased Cuyahoga County attorneys.

A former client of deceased attorney Charles Rocco Laurie Jr. was reimbursed the maximum award amount of $75,000 as a result of Laurie’s failure to account for funds deposited with him by his client. Laurie died Feb. 7, 2015.

A former client of deceased attorney George W. Macdonald was reimbursed $300 collected by Macdonald for costs but not expended. Macdonald passed away on April 22, 2017.

Three former clients of Guy D. Rutherford were reimbursed a total of $5,700 as a result of Rutherford’s failure to provide the services requested. Rutherford was permanently disbarred from the practice of law in Ohio on July 11, 2018.

Franklin County

A former client of Neal H. Magee, II was reimbursed the maximum award amount of $75,000 as a result of Magee’s conversion of trust assets. Magee was permanently disbarred from the practice of law in Ohio on Aug. 16, 2018.

Greene County

Two former clients of suspended attorney Mark A. Deters were reimbursed a total of $2,000 as a result of Deters’ failure to provide the services requested. Deters was suspended from the practice law in Ohio on Sept. 29, 2017.

Hamilton County

Five former clients of Andrea L. Reino were reimbursed a total of $14,625 as a result of Reino’s failure to provide the services requested. Reino resigned from the practice of law in Ohio, with discipline pending, on Dec. 1, 2017.

Summit County

A former client of deceased attorney Gary J. Boecker was reimbursed $35,900 as a result of Boecker’s conversion of client funds. Boecker died July 21, 2017.

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.

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