Hello

I was wondering if anyone could give me any advice on professional negligence.

My story is a bit too long to post on here, so this is a ­link­ that will give you the general gist of my problem:

Moderator Note: ­link­ to blog naming solicitor firm has been removed. You cannot name solicitors in this forum. Thanks for your understanding.

Thank you

I note somewhere within your blog you comment that you would like to take legal action for professional negligence, but ponder a) if you will find a lawyer who will take on the case as we all apparently close ranks in order to protect one and other and b) if you could afford it.

To answer:

a) professional negligence is its own area of pratice, and is one that those who practice it, do so because they believe that negligence damages the whole profession. You should have no difficulty in finding someone who practices this area of law:

b) check if you have legal indemnity insurance as part of your household insurance, which usually will cover professional negligence. If not, ask whomever represents you in the case if you are able to purchase an "after the event" insurance policy or finally, ask if the firm will run the case on a conditional fee agreement (commonly referred to as "no win, no fee") although you should be aware that if you enter a conditional fee agreement and lose you will be liable to pay the costs of the other party.

Just as an aside...none of these funding options are available for divorce, children or ancillary relief (just trying to head off posts which ask why people havent been offered these options for their cases).

Amanda

JKH,

That is a very interesting web page you have posted a ­link­ to.

There are dishonest people about and yes they can be in the legal profession just as much as any other.

I am appalled by the events you describe - terrible, absolutely repugnant behaviour by your solicitor.

The rules for this site I believe, preclude the naming of solicitors on the open posts and blogs so it was very good that you provided a ­link­.

I wish you every success in your battle for compensation.

YA

I picked up this bit from your blog:

......and despite me having hospital and doctor's records and police incident reports which proved I was the one on the receiving end of domestic violence and my husband had no evidence whatsoever of violence from me....

I think it is absolutely appalling what is happening to victims of Domestic Violence in Family Courts. (Behind closed doors!)

I imagine the judge was a man!?

Hello, and thank you all for your replies.

The divorce experience, unfortunately, was as stressful as the marriage itself.

Yes, the Judge was a man. I wrote several letters of complaint to the Law Society and the Bar Council and even wrote a letter of complaint about the Judge's appalling attitude. There was absolutely no evidence at all of violence from me - I was the one who was put in hospital a few times, yet I was told by the Judge that I provoked violence. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I'd already paid out £5,000 for a Non Molestation Order and Occupation Order, so he knew I was the one being subjected to domestic violence. I certainly didn't pay that sort of money out just for fun.

The domestic violence officer who came to court with me was horrified at the way I was treated.

I still haven't got over the court hearings yet and it was 18 months ago, but that could be because of the stress I suffered during the marriage. It certainly hasn't helped.

I have tried to find legal advice to sue that awful solicitor, but I sent my whole file of paperwork to a solicitor in Bristol who told me I had a case then asked for £2,500 up front just to assess the case.

Thanks to the appalling work of my former solicitor I just don't have that kind of money anymore. And what's to stop that solicitor from taking that money then saying I had no case even when he said I did? I just don't trust the legal system anymore.

The only way I could think of to get this out of my system was to make that blog. My former solicitor has seen it months ago and he's not done anything about it - because he knows it's all true. He's not attempted to have it closed down and he's not sent me any threatening letters to remove it... so it'll stay put.

I think he should be named and shamed and if I can help prevent anyone else going to him and getting ripped off like I did, then that's fine by me. He says he's had 18 years of experience with domestic violence, so why belittle my experience and call my ex "A pussycat"? He made me feel like a drama queen.

I can't believe I lost my home and livelihood when all I wanted was a divorce from a scumbag husband.

Sorry for the rant

Hi,

I read your blog, my blood pressure must have gone sky high!!!!!

That is absolutely appalling, lost for words.
I can only assume that the judge still had his wife chained to the kitchen sink, being everso 'umble to him for allowing her to exist in his life!!! Perhaps he gives her a quick slap every now and then, so deems in normal.

Love your blog. Seems like these problems with corrupt professionals are not as isolated as the profession would have us believe.
The best negligence firm that I know of are irwin mitchell.
This post here tells a cautionary tale http://www.order-order.com/2008/08/harry-is-back.html
The Telly Tubbies unsuccessfully tried getting the DNS pulled on my blog, any problems contact me, they might know how to exploit the law to cover for their corruption, but they haven't got a clue in hyperspace.

GOOD LUCK