The cost of putting profitability before integrity
September 14, 2011
Posted by:Sonita Hayward
Two solicitors at Davenport Lyons have been fined £20,000 by order of the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT). The case against them concerned letters they sent to six thousand people concerning illegal file sharing, demanding compensation and costs and threatening further action (and higher costs) if they didn't settle the claim as a matter of urgency. Those recipients who protested their innocence were ignored and the Solicitors Regulation Authority found that the judgement of the solicitors concerned became distorted as they were more interested in the profitability of the scheme rather than the distress caused by their actions and the best interests of their clients. Solicitors have a duty to act with integrity, independence and in the best interests of their clients - duties which were breached in this instance. The SDT also ordered that they pay interim costs of £150,000 whilst the full assessment of the costs bill is awaited.
Part of the Solicitors Regulation Authority's role is to police this kind of behaviour and I am sure the solicitors will think carefully before taking any risky steps like this again in the future.
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