Janet Francis

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

Janet Francis, a conveyancing clerk at Rawlinson and Butler, altered the file copy of a 1991 client letter in manuscript so as to materially change its meaning when the file was requested by another firm in connection with a potential professional negligence claim. The altered copy was later produced to the court; the original (found after trial) had not been altered. She admitted the allegation and accepted a Section 43 order. The Tribunal found the allegation substantiated (uncontested), describing it as an act of utmost foolishness by someone with a long, previously blameless career, and treated the order as primarily regulatory. No express finding of dishonesty was made. She was ordered to pay costs of £1,057.50.

Duties found breached:

• Cease acting on client perjury or disobedience

Mitigating factors:

• 25-year previously blameless career in the profession
• Three letters of reference in support
• Out of character; described as utmost foolishness rather than dishonesty
• Caring for two ill parents and overworked at the time
• Retired in 1999 with no intention of working in the profession again
• Admitted the allegation and apologised