Government “unlikely” to hit April 2019 target for PI small claims limit as solicitor warns of “have a go” culture
One of the claimant solicitors working with the Ministry of Justice on the new small claims limit for personal injury cases says he is operating on the assumption that it will not happen until October 2019 at the earliest – six months later than the government’s target. He also warned that the reforms may unintentionally trigger a “have a go” culture among claimants.
Solicitor “abrogated any responsibility” for firm’s finances while partner used money to fund gambling habit
A solicitor who “abrogated any responsibility” for her firm’s finances, allowing her fellow partner to take £512,000 from its accounts over five years to feed his gambling habit, has been fined £20,000 by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal. She argued that he “deliberately concealed” his misconduct from her.
Employment tribunal vindicates law firm’s denial that former employee was disabled
A judge has dismissed a claim by a law firm paralegal that he was the victim of disability discrimination, finding he had “dishonestly” altered a document about his medical condition and that, in any case, he had not told his employer about his supposed post-traumatic stress disorder.
Justice minister uncompromising on whiplash reforms and says more fixed costs are on the way
Justice minister Lord Keen today set the stage for next week’s House of Lords debate on the Civil Liability Bill with an uncompromising message that there are “too many unmeritorious whiplash claims made each year which proceed without challenge or investigation”. He also made clear the government’s intention to extend the application of fixed recoverable costs.
Marketing chief who took referral fee kick-backs banned from profession
The head of marketing at a firm that took money from the scandal-hit Axiom Legal Financing Fund has been banned from working in the profession after he accepted kick-backs from referral fees paid with Axiom money.
Criminal defence lawyers face “extinction” as profession unites to fight for justice system
Criminal defence lawyers in England and Wales could become “extinct”, the Law Society has warned on the back of data showing that this is an increasingly ageing part of the profession. It comes amid cross-profession unity for action over the huge damage lawyers say the government is causing the criminal justice system.
CMC which “rented” its authorisation to personal injury marketing company fails to overturn ban
A claims management company has failed to overturn the cancellation of its authorisation, which was found to have been “rented” to a marketing company which operated a call centre to generate personal injury leads. A judge said it was conducting “no business of its own” when the Claims Management Regulator intervened.
LSB bids to allay MPs’ concerns after rejecting their plea to hold back on SQE decision
The interim chair of the Legal Services Board has explained to MPs on the justice select committee why the oversight regulator rejected their plea to postpone a decision on the Solicitors Qualifying Examination. The committee called on the board to defer its decision for six months.
Barrister not to blame for repeat offender’s heroin conviction, Court of Appeal rules
A criminal silk was not to blame for a man being convicted of importing and supplying large quantities of heroin, the Court of Appeal has decided. Attique Sami argued that “no competent counsel” would have called a witness who gave “highly damaging evidence” against him involving 230kg of heroin with a street value of over £37m.
Government to introduce fixed costs for holiday sickness claims “in coming weeks”
The Ministry of Justice has met its timetable to introduce fixed recoverable costs for holiday sickness claims, announcing today that they will come into effect “in the coming weeks” and before the summer holiday season. It also for the first time put concrete figures to the widely quoted statistic that sickness claims have increased by 500% in recent years.
