Complaints Commission publishes first decision summaries

Twelve case summaries in the first of its promised quarterly releases on determinations in client complaints against solicitors have been published by the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission.

The cases chosen are six where the complaint was upheld and six where it was not. Outcomes in the cases decided against the solicitor range from no sanction (as no loss, inconvenience or distress was caused), to compensation awards for inconvenience and distress, and for actual loss, along with a fee refund and a £2,000 complaints levy.

Little detail is given of the transactions in question other than an outline of the complaint or complaints and the determination on each. However in one case a firm was held not liable for the actions of a solicitor who had moved on, and the solicitor was found personally liable instead.

Complaints not upheld were due to lack of evidence, or because the firm had acted in accordance with instructions, or the solicitor had exercised professional judgment.

Click here to view the summaries.