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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Miners' solicitors breached code | Miners' solicitors breached code |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Solicitors in South Yorkshire deliberately breached a code of conduct to collect £32m in fees from miners' compensation claims, a tribunal ruled. | |
| Six partners at Raleys in Barnsley took a deliberate and calculated risk to break rules to make "a huge amount". | Six partners at Raleys in Barnsley took a deliberate and calculated risk to break rules to make "a huge amount". |
| Partner Ian Firth was suspended for four years, David Barber for two years and Jonathan Markham for six months. | 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. | 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 | 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. | The three junior partners fined are Carol Gill, 38, Jim Gladman, 49, and Katherine Richards, 40. |
| All were named at the tribunal. | 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 staff at Raleys made the deal because they realised the practice 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 staff at Raleys made the deal because they realised the practice would "lose their last chance to make a huge amount of money" if they had abided by the code. |
| 'A tragedy' | 'A tragedy' |
| The Solicitors' Disciplinary Tribunal was also told the partners compromised their independence and integrity through their close ties with the National Union of Mine Workers (NUM). | The Solicitors' Disciplinary Tribunal was also told the partners compromised their independence and integrity through their close ties with the National Union of Mine Workers (NUM). |
| The hearing was told the NUM recommended that Yorkshire members seeking compensation for illnesses used Raleys. | The hearing was told the NUM recommended that Yorkshire members seeking compensation for illnesses used Raleys. |
| 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 overall for its handling of claims for respiratory disease and vibration white finger. | The tribunal heard the firm earned £72m overall 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. | 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. | 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. | 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". | 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". |
| The solicitors were also ordered to pay costs, estimated at more than £800,000, with an interim payment of £300,000 to be paid within 28 days. | The solicitors were also ordered to pay costs, estimated at more than £800,000, with an interim payment of £300,000 to be paid within 28 days. |
| Mr Firth must pay 50%, Mr Barber 25% and Mr Markham 15%. | Mr Firth must pay 50%, Mr Barber 25% and Mr Markham 15%. |
| The remaining 10% will be split equally between the three junior partners. | The remaining 10% will be split equally between the three junior partners. |