European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 15, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Litigious Marc exists looming Large clients most in need of someone to protect their Money by Rick Hampson associated press Steven Romer probably stole More from his clients than any lawyer in american history but he May not hold the record for Long More and More attorneys Are bilking the people they Are supposed to be looking out for Romer was sentenced in new York last week to a maximum of 22 years in prison and ordered to repay More than $7 million including an orphan s inheritance. Quot it s happening All Over the nation a the economic recession is taking its toll Quot said Frederick Miller director of the new York state bar s client Protection fund and chairman of an american bar association commission on such funds Quot in Many cases the Money goes to teed a compulsive habit gambling alcohol  lawyers in All but a few states tax themselves to provide a Lund to help reimburse those victimized by their dishonest colleagues. The past year was a Busy and difficult one for such funds a in Massachusetts the number of lawyers disciplined for stealing from clients Rose 65 percent. The bar association paid $1 million in reimbursements compared to an average of $270,000 a year ver the previous five Quot years a in Florida because of a Rise in clients seeking reimbursement the fund had to reduce the amount of individual payments so every deserving claimant could get something. A in North Dakota the fund was driven out of business by several huge claims against lawyers with cocaine habits a in new York state the number of claims climbed to 515. Compared with 311 in 1987 the fund faced claims of $35 million against assets of $2 million and the maximum individual payment had to be reduced irom $100,000 to $50,000. The now York program is the nation s largest it has compensated clients of lawyers ranging from Robert Anderson a former u s. Treasury Secretary whose signature appeared on currency irom 1957 to 1961, to Joel Steinberg the child killer. A widow lost her life s savings of $251.485 when Anderson covertly deposited the Money in an uninsured offshore Bank that he started. Steinberg kept $400 that was supposed to have been held in escrow for a client. They were bikers compared to Romer who May have stolen some $15 million. According to prosecutors and court records other members of the Larcelous lawyers million Dollar club include a Jack b. Solerwitz of Long Island an 86-year-old who stole $6,8 million from clients according to complaints. He moved from fits a million Home into a prison after receiving a 5 to 15-year sentence in 1990. A William a. Hamann or. Stole More than $2 million from 18 estates and trusts in the Cleveland area he was sentenced last year to 84 to 120 years in prison. A Lloyd Cohen stole $1.4 million from clients in Bergen county n.j., including a widow who lost her life a savings of $178,000. He received an 11-year sentence in 1989 a Pat f. Nesci of Southampton bilked clients out of As much As $1.2 million. He was sentenced last year to two to six years in prison. Lawyers caught stealing from their clients Are disbarred disgraced and often jailed. Attorneys say the vast majority of lawyers give clients their Best but the Specter of the advocate turned predator haunts the profession. As divorce lawyer Raoul Felder once said Quot for every lawyer whose multimillion Dollar thievery appears in the press there Are multitudes of others. Whose stealing is circumscribed Only by the size of the cookie  typically rogue lawyers easiest Marks Are the very the incompetent and the illiterate the very Young and the very old. Romer a father of 11, stole More than $700,000 from a College student who had been left the Money by her parents she gave it to Romer to invest since he had been her parents attorney Eugene costello of Denver was sentenced to three years in 1990 for stealing $1.2 million from clients including a Home for retarded children he had represented for 40 years. Romer an inventor spent some of the Money he stole on an electric car and he blames general motors for his downfall. Hamann bought four horses and financed his songs quest to become an olympic equestrian. Nesci on the other hand a was just unable to maintain a profitable practice Quot without stealing according to his lawyer. Quot a lot of clients he never charged anything. He just had absolutely no business  Edward s. Digges or. Of Annapolis md., who bilked his largest corporate client out of $3.1 million told a psychiatrist he used the Money to buy a 310-acre estate on Maryland s Eastern Shore and recapture some Happy moments from an otherwise unhappy  action Lin most local nationals cannot give blood it Kontak Boffin German Mem an organization wants to help the american military Community As coordinator for the club i thought it a Good idea Lor the club As a group to donate blood. This came about due to the continual commercials shown on an about the blood shortage to my Surprise i was told that Only the american members. Germans employed by the army or those married to a Soldier could donate. While discussing this with other members of the Public affairs office i Learned that during desert shield storm Many germans wanted to donate blood to help our soldiers they wanted to be sure the blood went to the combat zone and not just to any Hospital these people were also turned Down. So what Good reasons does whatever regulation have Tor keeping people from donating blood during what we Are led to believe is a major blood shortage the blood is going to be screened any Way you look at it this seems a rather silly time to Quot just say no Quot. Kyle j. Lamson Berlin it. Col. David t. Zolock he 7th medical come Laboratory sciences consultant replies unfortunately department of defense directive 6480 5 does not provide for collection from local nationals unless they Are family members of u s forces or department of defense employees. Paragraph in b. Of the directive states that Quot appropriate efforts will be made to minimize any Adverse Impact on blood programs of civilian communities adjacent to military installations All blood collections by the military departments will be restricted to military personnel their dependents and civilian personnel on such military  the policy ensures u s military blood Banks do not infringe on the Host nation or Community blood supplies during desert storm local agreements with Host nation blood Supply systems were in effect to provide emergency blood components to u s hospitals should the need arise. _ therefore local nationals excluded by the directive were referred to local blood collection agencies and informed that it needed their blood could possibly go to desert storm casualties to write us _ readers action line is the readers Quot court of last resort Quot striving to answer some of the questions about life overseas in a military environment or questions about policies and guidelines when other avenues for answers Are not readily available. If you have a question and Don t know where to turn for the answer write to readers action line co the stars and stripes. Unit 29480, Apo a 09211 All letters must be signed and preference will be Given to those seeking information of general interest to out readers Page 16 a the stars and stripes wednesday january 15, 1992