Sept. 15, 2010 – The Wisconsin Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection Committee approved $192,223 in reimbursements to 24 victims of lawyer theft at its August meeting. The committee considered 35 claims. Eleven claims were denied; and 4 were deferred. The dollar amount being sought for the deferred claims totals is $532,297.
According to committee chair Deb Smith, the committee considered a record number of claims at its last meeting, “The number and amount of claims is on the rise. We are seeing some very large claims and a few attorneys with many claims. As disturbing as some of the attorney conduct is, it is gratifying to hear the expressions of relief and thanks from claimants who we have been able to compensate.”
Disbursements
Claims recently were approved for clients of:
- Joan Marie Boyd, Shawano (one claim for an unearned advanced fee, $900)
- Leonard V. Brady, Milwaukee (two claims for theft from an estate, $89,434)
- Khaja M. Din, Madison (one claim for an unearned advanced fee, $3,000)
- Peter T. Elliott, Oconomowoc (one claim misappropriation of funds, $7,419)
- T. Christopher Kelly, Madison (five claims for trust account conversion, $25,500)
- the late Robert K. Kuhnmuench, Milwaukee (one claim for an unearned advanced fee, $1,000)
- Christopher A. Mutschler, Fond du Lac (13 claims for unearned advanced fees, $64,970)
About the fund
The Wisconsin Supreme Court established the fund, formerly named the Clients’ Security Fund, in 1981 to reimburse people who lost money through dishonest acts of Wisconsin attorneys. Claims include unearned retainer, theft from estate, misappropriation of funds, conversion of trust account funds, and theft by investment. Claims for reimbursement and all proceedings of the committee are subject to SCR 12.04-12. Reimbursement decisions are made at the discretion of the committee, which meets three times a year. The committee meets again in November and March.
For more information about the fund, email Kris Wenzel or call (800) 444-9404, ext. 6185, or (608) 250-6185.
