House of Lords written question – answered at on 20 July 2009.
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many complaints were lodged with the Law Society (Legal Complaints Service and Solicitors Regulation Authority) in the British Coal respiratory disease litigation and the British Coal vibration white finger litigation; what was the outcome of each complaint; how much was refunded to each complainant; and how much compensation was awarded to each complainant, broken down to awards from (a) £1 to £25, (b) £25.01 to £50, (c) £50.01 to £100, (d) £100.01 to £200, (e) £200.01 to £300, (f) £300.01 to £400, (g) £400.01 to £500, (h) £500.01 to £600, (i) £600.01 to £700, (j) £700.01 to £800, (k) £800.01 to £900, (l) £900.01 to £1000, (m) £1,000.01 to £1,500, (n) £1,500.01 to £2,000, (o) £2,000.01 to £3,000, (p) £3,000.01 to £4,000, (q) £4,000.01 to £5,000, and (r) over £5,000.01.
The Legal Complaints Service (LCS) has provided the following information:
Number of complaints | Outcome |
2,160 | Complaint conciliated |
673 | Complaint not upheld |
159 | Complaint outside our jurisdiction |
43 | Complaint resolved without our intervention |
565 | Complaint upheld |
6 | Complaint upheld but no action |
449 | Complaint withdrawn by customer |
139 | Customer has not responded |
109 | Referred back to firm under Rule 15 |
2 | Sols reasonable offer |
73 | Within jurisdiction but investigation declined |
1 | Complaint referred to SDT |
67 | Complaint/Allegation noted—Ongoing other action |
4 | Customer to pursue legal remedy |
1 | Customer to seek advice/gather evidence |
147 | closed temporarily |
9 | Not pursued by Instigator |
21 | Other |
782 | Ongoing |
5,410 | Total |
Prior to 2008, the LCS did not keep specific data on the amount of individual awards. A lump sum figure of £602,414.03 was awarded over the period
Compensation amounts awarded from 1 Jan 2008 to 30 June 2009 | |
£1 to £25 | 3 |
£25.01 to £50 | 3 |
£50.01 to £ 100 | 22 |
£100.01 to £200 | 83 |
£200.01 to £300 | 180 |
£300.01 to £400 | 219 |
£400.01 to £500 | 284 |
£500.01 to £600 | 165 |
£600.01 to £700 | 105 |
£700.01 to £800 | 110 |
£800.01 to £900 | 96 |
£900.01 to £ 1000 | 92 |
£1000.01 to £ 1500 | 244 |
£1500.01 to £2000 | 33 |
£2000.01 to £3000 | 24 |
£3000.01 to £4000 | 6 |
£4000.01 to £5000 | 3 |
Over £5000 | 2 |
Total | 1,674 |
We understand from the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) that disciplinary proceedings have been concluded (subject to appeal) in 12 cases relating to 41 individuals. The details of the results are as follows
Outcome of Concluded Disciplinary Proceedings | |
Fined £1,000 to £5,000 | 17 |
Fined £6,000 to £ 10,000 | 8 |
Fined £ 11,000 to £15,000 | 5 |
Fined £16,000 to £20,000 | |
Fined £21,000 to £25,000 | 1 |
Reprimanded | 4 |
Suspended for 6 months to 1 year | 1 |
Suspended for 1 to 2 years | 1 |
Suspended for 3 to 4 years | 1 |
Struck off the roll | 3 |
Proceedings are pending against 18 firms involving 67 individuals. Investigations are ongoing in relation to 19 firms. A further 15 firm investigations have been concluded with no disciplinary proceedings being taken. Investigations by the SRA have been conducted as a result of information received from a number of sources including, but not limited to, complaints received.
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