Christine Liggins

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

Christine Liggins, a legal assistant/clerk employed by Talbot & Co. from 1979 until her dismissal on 30 October 1992, was found to have misappropriated clients' monies of not less than £157,676.60 through a complex 'teeming and lading' arrangement, including cash Social Security benefits collected for eight clients. An audit revealed a shortage that the partners and the Solicitors Indemnity Fund made good. The respondent did not attend but acknowledged in correspondence that she made payments from other clients' funds when she realised money was missing. The Tribunal found the Section 43 allegation substantiated and made an order prohibiting her employment by solicitors without Law Society permission, and ordered her to pay fixed costs of £2,976.27. The Tribunal did not make an express finding of dishonesty.

Duties found breached:

• No improper use of client money