Michael Charles Edmund Pattison

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

A solicitor admitted to conduct unbefitting a solicitor for failing to comply promptly with an OSS direction (to refund £2,147.01 costs and pay £1,300 compensation to complainant Mrs H, totalling £3,447.01) and for failing to deal promptly with OSS correspondence relating to complaints by Mrs H and Mrs F. The Tribunal found the allegations substantiated (uncontested), noting his cavalier attitude. It imposed a conditional order: a £3,500 fine if he complied with the OSS direction by 31 January 2003, failing which indefinite suspension from 1 February 2003, plus costs of £924.95 in any event. No finding of dishonesty.

Duties found breached:

• Not mislead the court
• Complaints procedure and handling

Aggravating factors:

• Serious matter with no real explanation for failure to pay the compensation order
• Cavalier attitude toward correspondence from his regulatory body and the OSS direction
• Tribunal not satisfied he was even now facing up to his responsibilities
• Payment outstanding since February 2002

Mitigating factors:

• Admitted the facts and allegations
• Apologised profoundly to the Tribunal, the profession and the OSS
• Personal difficulties during a particularly difficult time
• Caring for his children effectively half the time
• Indicated he could make payment by 31 January 2003