Law Society-v-Stephen Michael Skimming
Interlocutor
Edinburgh 11 May 2016. The Tribunal having considered the Complaint at the instance of the Council of the Law Society of Scotland against Stephen Michael Skimming, residing care of 5 Old Dullatur Road, Cumbernauld; Find the Respondent guilty of professional misconduct in respect of his failure to respond to a client’s correspondence sent to him in November and December 2012, his failure to respond to correspondence from the Law Society and his failure to comply with the statutory notice issued by the Law Society; Censure the Respondent; Find the Respondent liable in the expenses of the Complainers and of the Tribunal including expenses of the Clerk, chargeable on a time and line basis as the same may be taxed by the Auditor of the Court of Session on an agent and client, client paying basis in terms of Chapter Three of the last published Law Society’s Table of Fees for general business with a unit rate of £14.00; and Direct that publicity will be given to this decision and that this publicity should include the name of the Respondent and may but has no need to include the names of anyone other than the Respondent.
Alistair Cockburn
Chairman
Compensation Interlocutor:
Edinburgh 11 May 2016. The Tribunal having considered the Complaint at the instance of the Council of the Law Society of Scotland against Stephen Michael Skimming, residing care of 5 Old Dullatur Road, Cumbernauld and having determined that the Respondent was guilty of professional misconduct, considered that the Secondary Complainer, James Kerr, 1 Waverly Crescent, Kirkintilloch has been directly affected by the Respondent’s misconduct; Ordain the Respondent in terms of Section 53(2)(bb) of the Solicitors (Scotland) Act 1980 to pay to Mr James Kerr, 1 Waverly Crescent, Kirkintilloch the sum of £250.00 by way of compensation in respect of loss, inconvenience and distress resulting from the misconduct together with the Secondary Complainer’s expenses for attending the Tribunal hearing in the sum of £22.00 within 28 days of the date on which this Interlocutor becomes final with interest at the rate of 8% per annum from the date due until paid.
Alistair Cockburn
Chairman