Peter Francis Miller

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

The Respondent solicitor was engaged by his uncle (Mr MD) and mother to recover funds held in a deceased's Swiss bank account. He lied to the Swiss lawyer Dr Fischer, diverting half the funds (GBP 59,664.25) to an account in the name of his Guernsey "Fiscal Consultant" rather than his uncle. He paid his uncle only GBP 20,000 in cash and falsely told him that a further GBP 20,000 had been seized by Swiss customs. The Tribunal found all allegations substantiated and expressly found the conduct wholly dishonest, noting he had ignored a 1997 Tribunal warning about honesty, fair dealing and truthfulness. The Respondent did not appear and was struck off the Roll, ordered to pay costs of GBP 9,723.46.

Duties found breached:

• No taking unfair advantage
• Uphold public trust in the profession
• No conflict between current clients
• No improper use of client money
• Prompt accounting and return of money
• Account for interest on client money

Aggravating factors:

• Ignored prior Tribunal warning in 1997 about honesty, fair dealing and truthfulness
• Lack of co-operation with his professional body
• Failure to respond to disciplinary proceedings and rendered himself unobtainable
• Victim was his own elderly uncle
• Deceived a fellow lawyer (Dr Fischer)