Miners' solicitors guilty of misconduct
TWO lawyers were found guilty of misconduct today over compensation payouts for sick miners.
James Beresford, 58, said to be Britain's highest-earning solicitor, and Douglas Smith, 52, made millions of pounds from personal injury claims for miners under the Government's coal health compensation scheme.
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James Beresford
Hundreds of Notts miners were represented by the firm.
The pair, both from Beresfords Solicitors in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, went before the Solicitors' Disciplinary Tribunal in London to face 11 allegations of "serious" professional misconduct.
The tribunal panel will now decide what penalties to set.
Labour MP John Mann (Bassetlaw), who has launched complaints against a number of law firms on behalf of miners, welcomed the decision.
"Beresfords represent all that is wrong with today's money-driven professional classes. Jim Beresford is a modern-day King Midas, believing that everything he touched would turn to gold, but ending up as the man who would not listen.
"Even now Beresfords have failed to pay back many miners who they duped. I trust that cheques with compensation will be in the post by Monday."
6 Comments
by Here in Lincoln, Lincoln
Monday, December 15 2008, 11:35AM
“My dad did some building work for Jim Beresford in the 80s and he seemed dodgy then wanting to cut corners and no end of his cheques bounced. I didnt like him - always gave me the creeps for some reason. He deserves whatever punishment is decided and he should compensate everyone he and his partner pocketed.”
by john, Notts
Friday, December 12 2008, 9:03AM
“Many miners didn't where all or indeed any safety equipment during the 70/80's which would have prevented so many of them from having ill health!
You only get one pair of lungs,so breathing coal dust and then smoking 40 fags a day will always come back to haunt you!
As regards these two corrupt lawyers,they should be either imprisoned or sent down a mine shaft for a few months!”
by jim, Pit Top
Thursday, December 11 2008, 11:53PM
“Puts them in the same bracket as the D.T.I. then .”
by George, Clifton
Thursday, December 11 2008, 10:05PM
“At last the net tightens. Hopefully these are the first of many who have scammed the hard working miners. May their heads drop in shame.”
by MadBadger, The Sett
Thursday, December 11 2008, 6:26PM
“I heard on the radio that these solicitors were recommended by the UDM. There must be some way of getting some of the money these sharks took back to the miners and their families.”
by Fairness, to the miners
Thursday, December 11 2008, 6:03PM
“They should be forced to pay back ALL the money they cheated ex-miners and their families out of, just because they are in the legal profession that is no excuse for being soft on them, if not each ex-miner should sue them using a decent Solicitor not a bent one like these 2 are.”