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Miners' solicitors breached code | Miners' solicitors breached code |
(10 minutes later) | |
A firm of solicitors in Barnsley deliberately breached a code of conduct over miners' compensation claims, a tribunal has ruled. | A firm of solicitors in Barnsley deliberately breached a code of conduct over miners' compensation claims, a tribunal has ruled. |
Six partners at Raleys took a deliberate and calculated risk to break the rules and collect £32m in fees. | Six partners at Raleys took a deliberate and calculated risk to break the rules and collect £32m in fees. |
Partner Ian Firth was suspended for four years, David Barber for two years and Jonathan Markham for six months. | |
Three junior partners were each fined £10,000. All the solicitors had denied any wrongdoing. | |
The hearing in London ruled that an agreement made with Zuko Legal, a so-called claims farm, was against the professional code of conduct. | The hearing in London ruled that an agreement made with Zuko Legal, a so-called claims farm, was against the professional code of conduct. |
Years of good service to their community and their clients has been thrown away with their previous reputation Tribunal chairman David Leverton | |
The three junior partners fined are Carol Gill, 38, Jim Gladman, 49, and Katherine Richards, 40. | |
All were named at the tribunal. | |
Tribunal chairman David Leverton said "every partner knew they were breaching the code by making the agreement". | Tribunal chairman David Leverton said "every partner knew they were breaching the code by making the agreement". |
He said the tribunal took a "serious view" of this and said Raleys made the deal because they realised the practices would "lose their last chance to make a huge amount of money" if they had abided by the code. | He said the tribunal took a "serious view" of this and said Raleys made the deal because they realised the practices would "lose their last chance to make a huge amount of money" if they had abided by the code. |
'A tragedy' | |
The Solicitors' Disciplinary Tribunal was also told the partners compromised their independence and integrity through their close ties with the NUM. | The Solicitors' Disciplinary Tribunal was also told the partners compromised their independence and integrity through their close ties with the NUM. |
The hearing was told the NUM recommended that Yorkshire members seeking compensation for illnesses used Raleys' practice. | The hearing was told the NUM recommended that Yorkshire members seeking compensation for illnesses used Raleys' practice. |
A percentage of the workers' payouts then went back to the NUM. | A percentage of the workers' payouts then went back to the NUM. |
Mr Leverton said the case was a "tragedy for Raleys". | Mr Leverton said the case was a "tragedy for Raleys". |
"Years of good service to their community and their clients has been thrown away with their previous reputation," he said. | "Years of good service to their community and their clients has been thrown away with their previous reputation," he said. |
Gregory Treverton-Jones QC, representing the solicitors, said the lawyers genuinely believed the NUM agreement to be in their clients' best interests, and that they had acted in good faith. | Gregory Treverton-Jones QC, representing the solicitors, said the lawyers genuinely believed the NUM agreement to be in their clients' best interests, and that they had acted in good faith. |
The tribunal heard the firm earned £72m for its handling of claims for respiratory disease and vibration white finger. | |
Mr Treverton-Jones said all the money earned came from legitimate fees, and that the practice was investigated by the Law Society in 2000 for similar issues, but exonerated. | |
The tribunal ruled Mr Firth, 60, bore a "heavy responsibility" in the case, followed by Mr Barber, 44, and Mr Markham, 46. | |
Junior partners - Ms Gill, 38, Mr Gladman, 49, and Ms Richards, 40, - played a lesser role. | |
Mr Treverton-Jones said the ruling was "very hard" for his clients to take, as they acted in good faith and were "committed and able solicitors". |