Website Maintenance Alert

May 29, 2025

Virginia State Bar Clients’ Protection Fund Board Pays $159,710.80 on Seventeen Petitions

The Virginia State Bar Clients’ Protection Fund Board authorized payments totaling $159,710.80 in reimbursement to petitioners regarding six Virginia attorneys at its February 21, 2025, meeting.

Three payments were authorized by the board to former clients of Henry W. McLaughlin III of Richmond. Two former clients, a married couple, received $4,000 in a full reimbursement and another client received $4,250 in a partial reimbursement for representation in real estate cases, while a partial reimbursement of $1,500 was made to a client in a civil litigation case. McLaughlin was unable to complete work in these matters after his license was revoked in June 2024.

The board approved a payment of $1,500, representing full reimbursement for unearned fees in a criminal law matter, to a family member of a former client of Gregory K. Matthews of Portsmouth. Matthews passed away in May 2024 before any work on the case was completed.

Payments of $1,820 and $7,850 were authorized by the board to two former clients of Gordon H. Shapiro of Roanoke for representation in divorce proceedings. Shapiro completed either partial work or insignificant work on behalf of the clients before his license was suspended in April 2024.

The board approved payments of $25,000 and $3,750 to former clients of Steven Scott Biss of Charlottesville. Biss completed no work on behalf of one client in federal civil litigation and partial work in a defamation action for another client. Biss’s license was suspended in January 2024 on the basis of impairment.

A family member of a former client of Dale Reese Jensen of Staunton was issued a reimbursement of $25,750 for unearned fees in a criminal law matter. Jensen committed dishonest conduct by promoting an unviable legal theory in filing a motion to vacate in this case. Jensen’s license was revoked in October 2023.

Eight payments totaling $84,290.80 were awarded to petitioners who retained David Gary Hoffman of Fairfax for estate planning and/or estate administration services. Hoffman’s license was revoked in December 2021.

The Clients’ Protection Fund was created by the Supreme Court of Virginia in 1976 to reimburse persons who suffer a quantifiable financial loss because of dishonest conduct by a Virginia lawyer whose law license has been suspended or revoked for disciplinary reasons, or who has died and did not properly maintain client funds. The fund is not taxpayer funded but is supported by Virginia lawyers who pay an annual fee of $5. Payments from the Clients’ Protection Fund are discretionary and are not a matter of right. 

If you have any questions, you may contact Vivian R. Byrd, administrator to Clients’ Protection Fund by email at [email protected] or by telephone at (804) 775-0572.