Scottish Solicitors' Discipline Tribunal - On-Line Findings Database

THE COUNCIL OF THE LAW SOCIETY OF SCOTLAND V GORDON COUTTS THOMSON FIRST RESPONDENT and MARIA THERESA THOMSON SECOND RESPONDENT and Complaint (Second) by THE COUNCIL OF THE LAW SOCIETY OF SCOTLAND V GORDON COUTTS THOMSON FIRST RESPONDENT and MARIA THER

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Solicitor(s)

GORDON COUTTS THOMSON therein designed
as Solicitor, Unit 6, Sighthill Shopping Centre, Edinburgh and now residing at Coalheughhead Farmhouse, Harburn, West Lothian FIRST RESPONDENT and
MARIA THERESA THOMSON therein designed as
Solicitor, Unit 6, Sighthill Shopping Centre, Edinburgh and now residing at Coalheughhead Farmhouse, Harburn, West Lothian SECOND RESPONDENT

Tribunal Date

13/10/1999

Appeal Status

Appeal Concluded

Downloads

Interlocutor

Edinburgh 13th October 1999. Following the remit by the Court dated 12th March 1999, the newly constituted Tribunal having resumed consideration of the Complaint dated 30th June 1994 at the instance of the Council of the Law Society of Scotland against Gordon Coutts Thomson and Maria Theresa and Another and the further Complaint at the instance of the Council of the Law Society of Scotland against the said Gordon Coutts Thomson and Maria Theresa Thomson and the submissions of the parties, in respect of the findings of professional misconduct that the Respondents were unable to produce any files or other records to justify fees claimed under the Legal Aid Advice and Assistance Scheme, failed to ensure that only fees properly due were charged to the Legal Aid Board, and were in breach of Rule 5 of the Solicitors (Scotland) (Advertising and Promotion) Practice Rules 1991, that the First Respondent was in breach of Rule 8 of said Rules, that the First and Second Respondents were in breach of Rule 3 of the Solicitors (Scotland) Practice Rules 1986 and Article 3 of the Code of Conduct for Scottish Solicitors, that the First and Second Respondents failed to supervise assistants adequately, that the First Respondent threatened a member of Lothian and Borders Police and showed discourtesy to the Court, that the First and Second Respondents brought the profession into disrepute and showed a disregard for the interests of clients, that they failed in their duty to act with fellow solicitors in a manner consistent with persons having mutual trust and confidence in each other and that the First and Second Respondents repeatedly failed to reply to correspondence from the Law Society, and from fellow solicitors, of new Order that the First and Second Respondents Gordon Coutts Thomson and Maria Theresa Thomson, be struck off the Roll of Solicitors in Scotland, Direct in terms of Section 53(6) of the Solicitors (Scotland) Act 1980 that this order shall take effect upon the intimation of this decision, Reserve the matter of expenses including the expenses occasioned by the motion heard on 7th May 1999, and Direct that publicity to include the names of the Respondents be given to this decision.

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