David Mark Turner

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

The SRA alleged that solicitor David Mark Turner provided misleading information to Client A between 21 January and 18 March 2019 by failing to inform them of the true outcome of a summary judgment hearing, in breach of Principles 2 and 6 of the SRA Principles 2011, with dishonesty alleged as an aggravating feature. Although the Tribunal found that several of Turner's emails contained misleading statements, it concluded—applying Wingate—that these clumsy, careless statements, taken in their wider context, did not amount to a lack of integrity or a breach of Principle 6, and did not constitute professional misconduct. Applying Ivey, the Tribunal found his belief that judgment was reserved/delayed was genuinely held and that he did not act dishonestly. All allegations were dismissed. The Respondent was ordered to pay costs of £10,854 (reduced from £30,630 sought), the case having been properly brought partly due to admissions made in his self-report which he later retracted.