Expert Evidence
Dr Zuber Bux, a GP who provided expert reports for a law firm where his wife was a director, was struck off the medical register by the GMC for diagnosing food poisoning in approximately 400 reports without sufficient evidence. The Medical Practitioners Tribunal described his conduct as “wholly deplorable and reprehensible.” Sources Lancashire Evening Post: Doctor struck off for preparing misleading holiday sickness claims
Read More →Criminal Conviction
Astrid Halberstadt-Twum of Cleveland & Co (East London) submitted approximately 5,795 false legal aid claims for immigration work — either for non-existent people or cases where the firm was never instructed. The fraud totalled £4.1 million in wrongly paid claims plus £758,000 in overpayments. She and her husband were jailed and she was struck off by the SDT in 2019. Sources Legal Futures: Legal aid fraud solicitor fails to set aside £5m judgment
Read More →Claims Management
Prodial Ltd (Brighton) was fined £350,000 for making 46 million automated nuisance calls from a residential property, harvesting information sold to claims management companies and generating approximately £1 million in turnover. Sources Infosecurity Magazine: ICO Slaps Nuisance Calls Biz With £350,000 Fine
Read More →Data Protection
Keurboom Communications received a then-record ICO fine of £400,000 for making 99.5 million automated unsolicited calls about road traffic accident and PPI claims over 18 months, often at antisocial hours. Sources Winston & Strawn: ICO issues record fine for nuisance calls
Read More →Cold Calling
The SDT found Phil Shiner (Public Interest Lawyers, Birmingham) guilty of 22 charges of professional misconduct. Charges included dishonesty, lack of integrity, authorising cold-calling of Iraqi clients, and paying prohibited referral fees exceeding £25,000. PIL had handled approximately 3,392 Iraq abuse allegations and received roughly £3 million in legal aid. The firm closed in August 2016 and Shiner was declared bankrupt in March 2017. Sources Legal Futures: Profession under fire after Shiner is struck off Wikipedia: Phil Shiner
Read More →Iraq Claims
Leigh Day and three solicitors faced 19 charges over Iraqi civilian claims linked to the £31m Al-Sweady Public Inquiry. After a seven-week hearing — the longest and most expensive SDT case ever — the firm was cleared of all charges. The SRA’s High Court appeal was dismissed. The SRA spent £3.1 million and was ordered to pay Leigh Day approximately £995,000 in costs. The firm spent roughly £7 million on its defence. Sources Legal Cheek: Iraq torture case: Leigh Day cleared of ALL misconduct Law Gazette: Leigh Day in the clear as High Court throws out SRA appeal Legal Futures: SRA pays Leigh Day £1m in costs
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