Iwona Dettlaff

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

Sole practitioner solicitor falsely told a client (Mr T) she had instructed a medical expert when she had not, and wrote to opposing solicitors (Radcliffes) claiming to act on client Mrs J's instructions when she had none, exposing Mrs J to a large unexpected costs liability. She kept clients in the dark, failed to advise on funding/legal aid, ignored complaints body and SRA correspondence, retained disbursement monies in office account without paying them (writing cheques recorded on ledgers but never sent), and failed to declare she was subject to Section 12 (eight judgment debts totalling £23,630). The allegation of dishonesty was pleaded but the Tribunal made findings of lack of integrity only and expressly noted dishonesty was not necessary to prove the allegation. Struck off the Roll and ordered to pay fixed costs of £12,620.34.

Duties found breached:

• Good faith and courtesy to colleagues
• Hold a current practising certificate
• No conflict between current clients
• Not mislead the court
• Prompt accounting and return of money

Aggravating factors:

• Misled clients and kept them in the dark about crucial matters
• Serious consequences for Mrs J, who faced a large unexpected costs bill and feared losing her home
• Concealment of true accounting position by writing cheques recorded on ledgers but never dispatching them
• Persistent failure to respond to the regulator and complaints body
• Large number of instances of non-cooperation