tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20722989.post8966606060664661943..comments2024-03-24T23:01:57.640+00:00Comments on The Justice Diaries: END OF CLAIMS: Rogue lawyer who claimed £600K in two years abandons £100K case against Scottish Legal Aid Board - over release of damning report revealing ‘unnecessary, deliberate and excessive’ legal aid claimsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20722989.post-19112654531457210672017-12-04T10:56:54.103+00:002017-12-04T10:56:54.103+00:00Great advertisement to stay away from Scottish law...Great advertisement to stay away from Scottish lawyers, probably all lawyers!<br /><br />LAWYER WHO RAKED IN £600K LEGAL AID HASSLES ESTHER,70, OVER £100 BILL<br /><br />Sep 18 2011 Lauren Crooks, Sunday Mail<br /><br />ROGUE lawyer Niels Lockhart is being probed by legal watchdogs over his treatment of an OAP client. Esther Francis, 70, says Lockhart left her in financial ruin and threatened her over bills she couldn't afford.<br /><br />The lawyer was hired by Esther two years ago to sort out a dispute with a housing association, with his fees paid by legal aid. But Esther wasn't told Lockhart had been rapped by the Scottish Legal Aid Board for "unnecessary and excessive" claims "not appropriate to a competent and reputable solicitor".<br /><br />He accepted a legal aid ban earlier this year but continued acting for Esther while charging her £80-an-hour. She paid Lockhart £560 but missed a £100 payment - and then received a threatening letter from him in June.<br /><br />Esther complained to the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission and is demanding a refund.<br /><br />She said: "I was worried when I got his threatening letter because he said he'd sue me and it would cost hundreds. "I starved m yself, couldn't pay my bills then had to sell my furniture."<br /><br />Esther, who lives in Motherwell, Lanarkshire, added: "I still owe debts because I was paying him instead of other bills. He has left me in ruins. "I think he knew I was vulnerable and thought I'd just do as he said. He took advantage of me."<br /><br />Lockhart, who raked in £600,000 of taxpayers' cash over two years, was rapped earlier this year for ramping up his claims. He could not be contacted for comment. He accepted a legal aid ban but was not reported to police nor struck off and still works in Kilmarnock. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20722989.post-68473534778661108262017-12-04T10:52:22.440+00:002017-12-04T10:52:22.440+00:00and would still be claiming legal aid or slipped b...and would still be claiming legal aid or slipped back onto the register if the press had not spotted itAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20722989.post-28406270422823372142017-12-03T19:18:45.751+00:002017-12-03T19:18:45.751+00:00A blind man on a dark night would instantly recogn...A blind man on a dark night would instantly recognize that this case demonstrates how double standards pervade the Scottish legal profession at every level.....and that includes the Judiciary!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20722989.post-43020889582409487072017-12-03T00:28:07.043+00:002017-12-03T00:28:07.043+00:00He sues the legal aid board because they released ...He sues the legal aid board because they released a report for a freedom of information request? Whoever gave this the go ahead to waste 3 years of court time needs exposed in the press!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20722989.post-27740606159231642302017-12-02T22:24:33.865+00:002017-12-02T22:24:33.865+00:00Slab stated "this release of information to y...Slab stated "this release of information to you was alleged by Mr Lockhart to be a breach of confidentiality by SLAB. SLAB defended the action.”.........................He used the breach of confidentially because he knew he could not sue them for the Legal Aid Claims he was making because they were unnecessary and deliberate. Another example for your readers DOI of the utter crooks lawyers are. I wonder why there has been no legal action taken against Lockhart for the recovery of public cash since he has had his nose in the Legal Aid trough. Not surprising but sickening what these crooks get away with. But this one is clearly cheesed off his name has been all over the press reports. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20722989.post-77453057026068127802017-12-02T20:03:12.578+00:002017-12-02T20:03:12.578+00:00"Decree of absolvitor was granted in favour o..."Decree of absolvitor was granted in favour of SLAB together with an order of expenses in favour of SLAB in the sum of £1,750." <br /><br />If these had been an ordinary member of the public I have no doubt that a case running for 3 years would have incurred significantly higher costs and Slab would have demanded payment and very possibly counter sued. <br /><br />Did the complainer pay Slab's costs I wonder?<br /><br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com