Ohio's Compensation Fund For Victims Of Crooked Lawyers Awards Maximum $75K Payout To Ex-Client Fleeced By Since-Disbarred Attorney

In Trumbull County, Ohio, WKBN-TV Channel 27 reports:

• Thirty one victims of attorney theft in Ohio were awarded a settlement, including two clients in Trumbull County.
  
  The Board of Commissioners of the Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection(1) awarded a $75,000 maximum claim to a Trumbull County client as part of $180,445 distributed to 31 victims of attorney theft at its meeting March 3.(2)
  
  Thirteen former or suspended Ohio attorneys were found to have misappropriated client funds. Three deceased attorneys also were involved in claims.
  
  In Trumbull County, the ex-spouse of a former client of David K. Roland was reimbursed the maximum award of $75,000 as a result of Roland’s failure to account for funds deposited with him, and a former client of suspended attorney Timothy E. Bellew was reimbursed $500 for Bellew’s failure to provide services, and
  
  Roland was disbarred on Aug. 31, 2016,,and Bellew was suspended from practicing law in Ohio on Jan. 24.

Source: Trumbull County client awarded $75,000 in lawyer theft investigation (Thirteen former or suspended Ohio attorneys were found to have misappropriated client funds. Three deceased attorneys also were involved in claims).

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(1) In Ohio, the Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection, formerly known as the Clients’ Security Fund, was created in 1985 by the state Supreme Court to reimburse victims of attorney theft, embezzlement, or misappropriation.

For similar "attorney ripoff reimbursement funds" that sometimes help cover the financial mess created by the dishonest conduct of lawyers licensed in other states and Canada, see:

• Directory Of Lawyers' Funds For Client Protection (February 2017) (includes Canadian recovery funds, courtesy of the American Bar Association);
• Check the USA Client Protection Funds Map;
• Check the Canada Client Protection Funds Map.

Maps available courtesy of The National Client Protection Organization, Inc.

(2) See 31 Victims of Attorney Theft Awarded More Than $180,000.