Chris MacCafferty - Professional Negligence Solicitor
The Daily Mail recently reported that a Solicitor had been suspended after “taking 19 years to settle spinsters estate”.
Guy Choat was subsequently barred from the profession for three years for the delay in winding up the affairs of Miss Muriel McCarthy.
The full article can be read here.
This is a very unfortunate state of affairs and I would have to echo the comments of the Chairman that this sort of delay is simply unacceptable.
It would appear that Mr Choat was in breach of the profession’s code of conduct of which there were several editions during the 19 year period.
I am only glad that this sort of extreme case is rare. I suspect that the Estate and Beneficiaries have been worn down by the length of time but they should consider the possibility of bringing a claim for professional negligence arising from the delay.
