Victoria Addis

Findings — machine-extracted (anthropic-batch:claude-opus-4-8); verify against the decision

Victoria Addis, a solicitor's clerk employed by Cordner Lewis Solicitors, was found to have misled several clients about the progress of their personal injury litigation (falsely claiming letters of claim had been sent, counsel instructed, court proceedings issued) and to have dishonestly manufactured/doctored an email purporting to come from a defendant firm to mislead parties. She admitted allegations (b) and (c); allegation (a) was not pursued. The Tribunal found the allegations substantiated, made an express finding of dishonesty regarding the fabricated email, and imposed an Order under Section 43 of the Solicitors Act 1974 restricting her employment by solicitors except with Law Society permission, plus costs of £5,380.25.

Duties found breached:

• Not mislead the court
• Proper basis for allegations

Aggravating factors:

• Fabrication of a doctored email to mislead other firms and parties
• Repeatedly misleading multiple clients about the progress of their cases
• Firm made an ex gratia payment to a client as a result of her conduct

Mitigating factors:

• Admitted allegations (b) and (c) prior to the hearing