(Oklahoma City – Dec. 23) More than $174,000 will be given to 23 people to compensate them for funds misappropriated by dishonest Oklahoma attorneys. The Oklahoma Bar Association Friday announced its Clients’ Security Fund will pay the claims of the clients of 11 former attorneys whose acts led to the losses.

OBA President Bill Conger of Oklahoma City said, “These former attorneys have been stripped of their licenses to practice law and reimbursing their clients’ losses is just one way the bar can reaffirm the integrity of the profession. The unethical actions of a few sadly cast a negative reflection on all lawyers. The fund is a small way we can correct the injustice suffered by their clients.”

Conger said all active Oklahoma lawyers contribute to the fund through a portion of their annual bar dues, and more than $1.6 million in reimbursements has been paid to clients since the fund was created in 1965.

The OBA’s Clients’ Security Fund Committee annually reviews client claims and makes recommendations to the OBA Board of Governors on the merits of the claims. Committee Chair Micheal Salem of Norman said typically these claims are paid for former attorneys who have become unstable as a result of a personal crisis or substance abuse.

Salem said, “The fund is a remedy of last resort for clients who cannot recover money from other sources, such as insurance, a bonding company or from the attorney involved.”

He said the committee recommended that clients be reimbursed for a total of $280,425.53; however, limited resources forced the amounts to be reduced by 38 percent. Claims to be paid this year total $174,028.29, which is the largest amount in the fund’s 43-year history.

Former attorneys for whom the OBA will be paying claims, the individuals to be compensated for their losses and the reimbursement amounts are:

William J. Anton, Tulsa; clients Sandy Graham, Sapulpa, $9,929.44; Anthony McGhie, Bristow, $11,534.04; Larry J. Vann, Tulsa, $9,102.65; Vearl Carmichael, Owasso, $37,099.68; Lillie Doyle, Tulsa, $510.75; Melvon Whitfield, Oklahoma City, $4,297.59; Stella Babb, Tulsa, $9,716.23; Tina Woolsey, Tulsa, $9,664.32.

James D. Berry, Shawnee; client James R. King, Moore, $9,805.32.

Robert E. Frazier III, Tulsa; client Michael Gonzalez, Tulsa, $1,551.48.

Michael Gassaway, Oklahoma City; clients Eddie Berry, Lexington, $2,482.36; Ben Stroker, Shawnee, Kan., $3,102.95; Jeremiah Hatchett, Chickasha, $930.89.

Howard S. Miller, Tulsa; client William R. Newton, Sand Springs, $465.44.

David L. Morris, Ada; client Genell Arnold, Shawnee, $5,693.84.

Jeffrey Parker, Tulsa; client: Terry Schopp, Pryor, $3,102.95.

John M. Whitworth, Tahlequah; client Jolee Casinger, Gore, $1,241.18.

Jacob T. Williams, Tulsa; client Cynthia Brennan, Broken Arrow, $6,204.90.

Silas C. Wolf Jr., Norman; client Lahonna Lindegard, Edmond, $7,447.08.

Nathan H. Young, III, Tahlequah; clients Carol R. Sellers, Tahlequah, $12,218.65; Bonnie Holland, Tahlequah, $25,599.34; William Runnels, Hulbert, $1,768.68; Tina Estes, Oklahoma City, $558.53.

More information about the Clients’ Security Fund can be found on the OBA’s Web site at www.okbar.org.