Client Security Fund Committee
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What is the
Client Security Fund?
The Client Security Fund is a fund established by the
rules of the Connecticut Superior Court to provide reimbursement to individuals
who have lost money or property as a result of the dishonest conduct of an
attorney practicing law in the State of Connecticut, in the course of the
attorney-client relationship. The fund provides a remedy for clients who are
unable to obtain reimbursement for their loss from any other source.
Where does money for the Client Security Fund come from?
The
fund is financed by a fee collected from each attorney admitted to practice law
in the State of Connecticut, as well as each judge, judge trial referee, state
referee, family support magistrate, family support referee and workers'
compensation commissioner.
Who administers the Client Security Fund?
The fund is administered by the Client Security Fund Committee, which is
comprised of fifteen members. Nine of the members are attorneys, three are
non-attorneys, and three serve either as a judge, appellate court judge, supreme
court justice, family support magistrate, family support referee or workers'
compensation commissioner.
What types of losses are covered by the Client Security Fund?
The Client Security Fund Committee may reimburse losses resulting from the
dishonest conduct of a Connecticut attorney who has died, been adjudged
incapable, not competent or insane, been disbarred or suspended from the
practice of law in Connecticut, been placed on inactive status by a Connecticut
court, resigned from the Connecticut bar, or against whom a judgment has been
obtained with respect to the dishonest conduct. “Dishonest conduct” means
wrongful acts committed by an attorney, in an attorney-client relationship, or
in a fiduciary capacity arising out of an attorney-client relationship, in the
nature of theft or embezzlement of money or the wrongful taking of money,
property or other things of value. The committee will, in limited circumstances,
reimburse a loss based on an attorney’s refusal to refund unearned fees received
in advance.
What types of losses are not covered by the Client Security Fund?
Losses that are not covered by the client security fund
include:
- A loss that was the result of investment services provided by an
attorney;
- A loss presented more than four years after the loss was discovered or
should have been discovered;
- A loss suffered by a close relative, business associate, partner, or
employee of the attorney who caused the loss;
- A loss that was the result of malpractice or negligence;
A loss covered by an insurance policy or contract, bond, or surety agreement, to
the extent that the loss is covered by the same. In some cases, the Client
Security Fund may require you to pursue other remedies that you may have against
the attorney who caused your loss before considering your claim, such as filing
a civil lawsuit against the attorney or the attorney’s estate. The committee may
also require you to report the theft to appropriate law enforcement and/or
attorney disciplinary agencies before considering your claim.
How
do I file a claim?
You may file a claim by completing and returning
a claim form, available from the office of the Client Security Fund Committee,
Second Floor, Suite One, 287 Main Street, East Hartford, Connecticut,
06118-1885, telephone (860) 568-3450. The form should be completed providing as
much information as possible. The Client Security Fund Committee may require
additional information from you in addition to the information provided in the
form. Obtain a copy of form
JD-GC-15 -
Application for Reimbursement - Client Security Fund - PDF.
There is
no application fee. You are not required to be represented by an attorney,
although you may have one represent you if you wish. Attorneys may not charge a
fee for assisting individuals with their claim unless the fee is approved by the
Client Security Fund Committee.
What is the claims process?
Each claim is reviewed to determine if it is eligible for reimbursement. If the
claim is not eligible for reimbursement, you will be notified. Eligible claims
are investigated, and the Client Security Fund Committee determines, in its sole
discretion, the amount of reimbursement that will be allowed, if any, and how
payment will be made.
What happens if I am awarded payment on my
claim?
In order for you to receive payment, the Client Security Fund
Committee will require you to sign documents transferring your claim against the
dishonest attorney to the Committee, in order to allow the Client Security Fund
Committee to attempt to obtain reimbursement from that attorney for amounts paid
to you. If the Client Security Fund Committee reimburses you for all or any part
of your loss, you are also required to cooperate with the Committee to help them
obtain reimbursement from the attorney for the amounts that were paid to you.
How long does the claims process take?
It depends
upon the length of time that is required to obtain enough information for the
Client Security Fund Committee to make a decision regarding your claim. However,
you will receive a written decision regarding the claim once it is made by the
Client Security Fund Committee.
How can I get more information or
answers to questions?
Contact the office of the Client Security Fund
Committee at (860) 568-3450 or by email:
Security.Fund@jud.ct.gov
Please note that these answers to questions have been provided to you
for informational purposes only, and are not intended in any way to amend or
supplement the Superior Court rules or Committee regulations which govern the
Client Security Fund Committee. Reference may be had to the Connecticut Practice
Book, available at any Superior Court library, for the official text of the
rules governing the activities of the Client Security Fund Committee. View the
Client Security Fund Brochure, JDP-GC-16 - PDF.
What Is the Client Security Fund
Fee?
Connecticut Practice Book Section 2-70 provides that an
annual fee be assessed attorneys to fund a client security fund. The purpose of
the client security fund is to reimburse clients who have been the victims of
the "dishonest conduct" of an attorney, as defined in Practice Book Section
2-69, and to provide crisis intervention and referral assistance pursuant to
Practice Book Section 2-68A to attorneys admitted to the practice of law in this
state who suffer from alcohol or other substance abuse problems or gambling
problems, or who have behavioral health problems. Information about crisis
intervention and referral services provided to attorneys may be found on the
Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers web page. Pursuant to
Practice Book Section 2-70(a), the annual fee is $75.00. The fee may be paid
online by attorneys registered with the Judicial Branch for access to E-Services
at www.jud.ct.gov. For answers to questions
about the client security fund fee, e-mail
Security.Fund@jud.ct.gov, or
telephone (860) 568-3450.
Who must pay the fee?
The fee must be paid by each attorney
admitted to practice in Connecticut, and each judge, judge trial referee, state
referee, family support magistrate, family support referee and workers
compensation commissioner. Attorneys permitted to engage in authorized
activities as authorized house counsel pursuant to Practice Book Section 2-15A,
and attorneys permitted to appear pro hac vice pursuant to Practice Book Section
2-16, are also required to pay the fee. Attorneys admitted to the practice of
law on or after January 1 of the calendar year for which the fee is due are not
required to pay the fee for that year, except that an attorney applying for
permission to appear in a matter pro hac vice pursuant to Practice Book Section
2-16 must certify that they have paid the client security fund fee due for the
calendar year in which the application has been made. See Practice Book Sections
2-15A, 2-16 and 2-70 for more information.
Who is exempt from the fee?
An attorney is not exempt from the fee because he or she practices out of
state, or because he or she does not actively practice law. Only those attorneys
who have retired, resigned, who have served on active duty in the armed forces
of the United States for a period of more than six months during the calendar
year, or who have been disbarred, are exempt from payment of the fee. Attorneys
have "retired" only if they have complied with the provisions of Practice Book
Section 2-55 or Section 2-55A.
See more Information. A partial, fifty percent exemption is available to
attorneys who do not engage in the practice of law as an occupation and have not
earned and do not expect to earn more than $1000.00 in legal fees or other
compensation for services involving the practice of law during the calendar
year. Please note that if you engage in the practice of law as an occupation
outside of Connecticut, you do not qualify for the partial exemption. If being
an attorney is a factor in an individual's employment, such attorney is deemed
engaged in the practice of law as an occupation for purposes of the partial
exemption and does not qualify for the partial exemption. An attorney claiming a
partial exemption must complete an exemption claim form and submit the form with
their payment. (Claim
of Exemption, Client Security Fund Fee – Form JD-GC-22). If an attorney is
eligible for an exemption, it may also be claimed online by attorneys registered
with the Judicial Branch for access to E-Services at
www.jud.ct.gov.
How do I pay the fee?
If an attorney has enrolled with Judicial Branch E-Services, payment of the
client security fund fee may be made online by
logging in to E-Services.
Payment of the fee may also be made by mailing a check or money order payable to
“Client Security Fund” in the amount of $75.00 ($37.50 if a partial exemption is
claimed and an exemption claim form (form JD-GC-22) is mailed with the payment)
to Client Security Fund, P.O. Box 1379, Hartford, Connecticut, 06143-1379. The
attorney’s juris number should be included on the check or money order if the
payment is being made by mail. Attorneys permitted to appear pro hac vice
pursuant to Practice Book Section 2-16 must pay the fee by mail. If an attorney
is submitting payment of the fee in connection with their application to appear
pro hac vice pursuant to Practice Book Section 2-16, the attorney should include
a cover letter with the payment identifying the name of the case, the docket
number, and the court location where the case has been filed.
What should I do if my license to practice law has been administratively
suspended for non-payment of the annual client security fund fee pursuant to
Practice Book Sections 2-70 and 2-79(a)?
Practice Book Sections 2-70 and 2-79(a) provide that the license to practice
law of an attorney who fails to pay the annual client security fund fee may be
administratively suspended until such time as the fee, along with a
reinstatement fee in the amount of $75.00, is paid. If your license to practice
law has been administratively suspended for non-payment of the annual client
security fund fee, you should contact the office of the Client Security Fund
Committee to obtain information about the amount of fees owed. Payment may be
made online by attorneys registered with the Judicial Branch for access to
E-Services at www.jud.ct.gov, or a check or
money order in the amount of the past due fees and reinstatement fee should be
sent to Client Security Fund, P.O. Box 1379, Hartford, Connecticut 06143-1379.
Your juris number should be included on the check or money order. Upon receipt
of a check or money order in the correct amount, or payment online, you will be
reinstated. For additional information, the office of the Client Security Fund
Committee may be contacted by e-mail at
Security.Fund@jud.ct.gov,, or by
telephone at (860)-568-3450.
I appeared in a matter pro hac vice and the matter has concluded, but I have
received an invoice for the client security fund fee. Do I need to pay the fee?
Practice Book Section 2-16 requires attorneys who appear in a matter pro hac
vice to pay the annual client security fund fee when due for each year the
attorney appears in the matter. If the matter concluded prior to January 1 of
the calendar year for which you received the invoice, you should notify the
office of the Client Security Fund Committee. Please send a letter with your
name, juris number, and the case name, docket number and court location of the
matter in which you appeared, and the date that your appearance in the matter
concluded to:
Client Security Fund Committee
Second Floor, Suite One
287 Main Street
East Hartford, CT 06118
More information on
inactivating your juris number
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