The Clients' Security Fund Committee approved reimbursements totaling $56,541.80 to 12 victims of lawyer theft at its September meeting.
November 2003
Clients' Security Fund disburses $56K in
claims
The Clients' Security Fund Committee approved
reimbursements totaling $56,541.80 to 12 victims of lawyer theft at its
September meeting.
"This total was well within our budget projections, and the fund
remains on a sound financial footing," reports committee chair Wayne
Maffei. "The committee is dedicated to increasing public awareness of
the fund and reimbursing client victims of dishonest lawyer
conduct."
According to Maffei, the committee plans to petition the supreme
court to rename the fund, "The Wisconsin Lawyers' Fund for Client
Protection." The new name better describes both the source and purpose
of the fund.
Claims were approved for clients of John Sanborn (one claim for
$6,131.80); the late Brian Blacher (seven claims totaling $13,710); the
late Mark P. Dries (one claim totaling $35,000, which was the maximum
allowable amount based on the date of the theft); Thomas K. Archie (one
claim totaling $250); Anne B. Shindell (one claim totaling $1,000); and
Robert Sherry (one claim totaling $450).
The Wisconsin Supreme Court established the fund in 1981 to reimburse
people who lost money through dishonest acts of Wisconsin attorneys,
including unearned retainer, theft from estate, misappropriation of
funds, conversion of trust account funds, and theft by investment. All
claims for reimbursement and all proceedings of the committee are
subject to the provisions of SCR 12.04. All Wisconsin-licensed
attorneys, except those classified as inactive, subsidize the fund.
Reimbursement decisions are made at the discretion of the committee,
which meets twice a year.
Inside the Bar
