Suspended Attorney Soliciting Clients from Prison

Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection Warns of Suspended Attorney Soliciting Clients from Behind Bars.Photo byMorristown Minute

The Fund reimburses victims of misconduct as claims against suspended Jersey City attorney Santo V. Artusa Jr. continue to surface.

MORRISTOWN, NJ – The New Jersey Lawyers' Fund for Client Protection has issued a warning about Santo V. Artusa Jr., a suspended Jersey City attorney who allegedly solicited retainer payments from former clients despite his suspension from practicing law. The warning comes as the Fund disbursed $250,201 to claimants in the third quarter of 2024, including significant sums to victims of Artusa and other attorneys.

Artusa was suspended by the New Jersey Supreme Court on August 21, 2023, but reports suggest he has continued to contact former clients as recently as August 2024, seeking payments for legal services he is no longer authorized to provide. The Fund’s trustees have reported these activities to law enforcement and are urging the public to remain vigilant against such unauthorized practices.

In the same period, the Fund settled claims against four other New Jersey lawyers, including a substantial case against Martin S. Fishman, who misappropriated $214,701 from a real estate transaction. The majority of the claims processed by the Fund involved attorneys who retained fees without delivering the promised legal services.

Among these, James R. Lisa of Jersey City stands out with 17 claims totaling $24,300 related to unearned retainers since his arrest in July 2023. Lisa has since been convicted on federal charges of stealing $2 million from a client and is currently serving a 66-month prison sentence.

The Fund, supported by annual contributions from New Jersey attorneys and not taxpayer dollars, aims to protect and reimburse clients who fall victim to dishonest practices in the legal profession. Since its inception in 1961 and subsequent expansion in 1969, the Fund has compensated thousands of claimants, reflecting a small fraction of the state’s legal practitioners involved in such claims.

The trustees of the Fund, appointed by the Supreme Court, emphasized that only a minuscule percentage of New Jersey’s 99,349 licensed lawyers ever face approved claims. However, the Fund has paid out nearly $100 million over its 55-year history and has recovered over $26 million from culpable parties.

Victims of attorney misconduct can file a claim with the Fund if their case involves a New Jersey lawyer who was acting as an attorney or fiduciary at the time of the incident. The Fund does not cover cases of legal malpractice, negligence, or fee disputes.

For more information or to file a claim, individuals can visit the official website at https://www.njcourts.gov/public/get-help/lfcp, contact the Fund via mail, or call 855-533-FUND (3863). There is no filing fee, and claimants seeking legal assistance can receive free aid from practicing attorneys.

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