Former clients of Roanoke bankruptcy attorney Ann Marie Miller who paid for work that was never done will be reimbursed an average of slightly less than 20 cents on the dollar, according to a court order issued this week in Roanoke Circuit Court.

Miller's bankruptcy practice ended last year after a messy dispute with a former partner, an assault charge and an agreement in October to give up her law license.

Carter "Chip" Magee, the Roanoke attorney appointed by the court to close Miller's practice, located hundreds of files belonging to people who paid Miller but whose bankruptcy cases were left in limbo. Magee was able to retrieve only about $7,000 from Miller's accounts and about $35,000 more from her former partner, attorney Jeffrey Kessler of Vinton, who also gave up his bankruptcy practice in the wake of the dispute with Miller.

Miller and Kessler had dated in law school and later shared bankruptcy work in Roanoke. Miller said last year that they were still romantically involved as they worked together. Kessler said they were not. The partnership ended when Kessler married a paralegal who had worked for both lawyers.

Miller could not be reached for comment. Roanoke attorney Richard Lawrence, who represented Miller in her dealings with the Virginia bar, said he thought she moved out of state.

Miller was convicted of disorderly conduct after altercations with the newlyweds. A judge said an assault charge would be dropped if she stayed out of trouble for a year. The Virginia State Bar moved to close her practice when clients complained that work they had paid for was not done.

The court order filed this week says $43,516 was found to put toward client claims that totaled $214,335.

Magee said that the Clients' Protection Fund, set up by the Virginia State Bar to help cover losses caused by dishonest lawyers, might help Miller's former clients make up a portion of their losses.

Information about the fund can be obtained by calling the state bar association at (804) 775-0567 or (804) 775-0575.

Staff writer Laurence Hammack contributed to this report.