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simonrl
51% (Neutral)
Administration Topic Starter

16 years ago

An article in the Times about solicitors flouting miners' compensation claims. The print version was more detailed.

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/law/article5151510.ece

my orders are to sit here and watch the world go by

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carnkie
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

I've been following this over the years and some of the stats are appalling. 69% of miners received less in compensation than it cost the Government to administer the claim. Ten solicitors firms made more than £33 million in fees. 50d was the smallest award made. I can't think of a bigger insult. 10% of miners were found to have been overcharged by solicitors in a pilot investigation. And so on.
Reminds me of the time I was walking along with a friend on a freezing cold day and he turned to me and said "It's so bloody cold even the solicitors have got their hands in their own pockets". Although this is no laughing matter.

The past is a foreign country: they do things differently there.

hymac580c
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

Dam crooks I say.
I can remember years ago my cousin coming to show my father his Ford Capri 3 litre.
My father asked my cousin 'how powerfull is it?'
Cousin said 'very powerfull'.
My father replied 'but is it powerfull enough to pull a solicitor from the depths of hell'?
I think he had a very good point there.

Bellach dim ond swn y gwynt yn chwibian, lle bu gynt yr engan ar cynion yn tincian.

simonrl
51% (Neutral)
Administration Topic Starter

16 years ago

Update on this: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/south_yorkshire/7777957.stm

Quote:

Beresford and Smith's joint earnings went from more than £182,000 in 2000 to £23,273,256 in 2006, the tribunal heard.

my orders are to sit here and watch the world go by

carnkie
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

And then to go on and say:

"The law firm argued there was "absolutely nothing wrong" with earning substantial fees from its business conduct".
.
.
.
Having just left a widow with £217. :guns: :guns:

The past is a foreign country: they do things differently there.

hymac580c
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

Should the baristers be hung twice, then drawn and quartered and fed to the rats??? :devil:

Bellach dim ond swn y gwynt yn chwibian, lle bu gynt yr engan ar cynion yn tincian.

Mr.C
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

I realy can't see why they aren't done for fraud & the proceeds siezed.

We inhabit an island made of coal, surrounded by a sea full of fish. How can we go wrong.......

justin
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

these guy just exploited the system............... 😠

the system is sh1t for making this kind of thing possible and not including safeguards to prevent it 😠 😠 😠

sparty_lea
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

They've been struck off
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/law/article5325602.ece

Not to worry though- he wont starve, he's got the 30M he's personally been paid for services rendered...... and plans for the future
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/law/article5327740.ece

There are 10 types of people in the world.

Those that understand binary and those that do not!

simonrl
51% (Neutral)
Administration Topic Starter

16 years ago

#10

"Mr.C" wrote:
I realy can't see why they aren't done for fraud & the proceeds siezed.

Agreed, but maybe they operated just on the right side of the law? But how any excuse can be made for practice which ended up with a widow receiving £217 whilst the partners make £23M is absolutely beyond me.

my orders are to sit here and watch the world go by

Gwyn
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

#11

The law is an anagram of wealth.
Struck off (for how long?) is well worth £23 million.
:guns:

simonrl
51% (Neutral)
Administration Topic Starter

16 years ago

#12

Another one: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/8028843.stm

Quote:

A solicitor who once made £13m in a single year has been struck off for his misconduct in handling the compensation claims of sick miners.

Warrington lawyer Andrew Nulty, who made £13m in 2006 at law firm Avalon, has become the third lawyer to be struck off over the government scheme.

my orders are to sit here and watch the world go by

carnkie
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

#13

I was reading about this in the Times. Words fail me.

In total, solicitors have earned £1.2 billion since 1998 for their work on 760,000 claims brought by former miners with respiratory disease or a crippling hand condition caused by their work underground.

More than 27,000 died before their final compensation was paid and more than 287,000 of those with lung disease received less in damages than the average £2,332 per claim paid in legal fees to their solicitors.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article6201199.ece

The past is a foreign country: they do things differently there.

Dolcoathguy
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

#14

As a union rep in a union representing miners, I know solicitors will always charge £50 - £200 an hour and upwards. I know it can't be done on all cases, but a single class action based on one site may reduce legal costs. Problems occur when miners have retired and no longer benefit from union membership. But I am sure some unions have assisted on such matters even so. Any retired miners suffering from work related illness should at least approach their old union for advice/help before they are hooked by a compensation solicitor.

Is it safe to come out of the bunker yet?

carnkie
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

#15

As a matter of interest can miners not retain membership of the union after they have retired? In some unions you can.

The past is a foreign country: they do things differently there.

Dolcoathguy
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

#16

Carnkie
You are right, for my union it is £10 per annum if retired or injured / disabled / unable to work (as opposed to £10 month if not).
However many miners who retire have union subs deducted from wages, when they retire this stops and they forget to
set up something from their own personal bank account.
But is a small price to pay for free(employment related) legal aid approved by union.
Thanks for reminder, will now remember to publicise this to miners/ union members considering retirement.

Is it safe to come out of the bunker yet?

simonrl
51% (Neutral)
Administration Topic Starter

15 years ago

#17

The latest on this...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/south_yorkshire/8390389.stm

"BBC News" wrote:
Solicitors who took millions of pounds from compensation payouts given to sick miners have lost their appeal against being struck off for misconduct.

Good.

my orders are to sit here and watch the world go by

Gwyn
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

15 years ago

#18

Simon McMillan of Beresford's is reported as saying-
"They will no doubt be carefully considering their options as to what steps to take to clear their names"..
This is after three High Court Judges unanimously upheld the earlier judgement. Words fail me....