Fund for Client Protection
For Fiscal Years 2002 – 2011
| Fiscal Year |
Annual Assessment |
|---|
| 2002 |
$15 |
|---|
| 2003 |
$20 |
|---|
| 2004 |
$0 |
|---|
| 2005 |
$10 |
|---|
| 2006 |
$10 |
|---|
| 2007 |
$25 |
|---|
| 2008 |
$16 |
|---|
| 2009 |
$0 |
|---|
| 2010 |
$16 |
|---|
| 2011 |
$25 |
|---|
|
May 19, 2010 – The Wisconsin Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection Committee has approved nine claims totaling $46,950, deferred eight claims to FY 11 totaling $374,893.27; and denied five claims totaling $108,500 at its May meeting. All nine approved claims were for the clients of Christopher A. Mutschler, Fond du Lac. The number of claims approved this fiscal year 2010 is 28, for a total of $513,997.14. The committee set the FY 11 assessment, effective July 1, 2010, at the maximum $25.
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 failure to return unearned advance fees, 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.
Assessment. The committee approved a $25 assessment for FY 11 per SCR 12.97(3). Wisconsin-licensed attorneys, except those classified as inactive, support the fund through an annual assessment. This is up from $16 in FY 10.
“The Client Protection Fund Committee is facing an upturn in the number and dollar amount of claims,” says committee chair Deb Smith. “At its May meeting the committee had to defer some claims for payment until next fiscal year for lack of funds, and more than 20 new claims have already been received for the next meeting.”
State Bar Executive Director George Brown (left) thanks Wayne L. Maffei for his long-term service on the Fund for Client Protection Committee.
Maffei goes off committee. At its May meeting, the committee bid goodbye to Wayne Maffei, Baraboo, who served on the committee for 10 years. Maffei also chaired the committee from 2001 to 2004.
“Wayne has been a thoughtful and hard working member of the committee. He will be missed,” says Smith. “The committee is grateful for Wayne’s contributions and his leadership during his many years of service.”
For more information about the fund, email Kris Wenzel or call (800) 444-9404, ext. 6185, or (608) 250-6185.
