Lisa Dawn Noonan

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

Lisa Dawn Noonan, an assistant solicitor, failed to open a file and register a client's criminal injuries compensation claim, resulting in the limitation period expiring. Instead of reporting the error, she sent a series of untrue and misleading texts and emails to the client's husband over almost five years, creating the impression the claim was progressing. She eventually self-reported in March 2014. The Tribunal found allegation 1.1 proved (breach of Principles 2 and 6) and expressly found dishonesty under the Twinsectra test. Despite significant mitigation and personal difficulties, the Tribunal found no exceptional circumstances and ordered her to be struck off, plus costs of £2,276.92.

Duties found breached:

• Integrity
• Uphold public trust in the profession

Aggravating factors:

• Dishonesty proved
• Deliberate, calculated and repeated conduct over a long period (almost five years)
• Repeated untruthful emails and texts to client's husband constituting breach of trust
• Conduct designed to conceal her initial mistake
• Motivated by protecting her career/employment

Mitigating factors:

• Self-reported to her firm
• Took stock while on maternity leave
• Genuine insight, admissions and contrition
• Full participation and compliance with directions
• Newly qualified with no litigation experience in this type of work
• Traumatic personal circumstances including illness and death of a close family member
• Not found to be dishonest in general character
• Little actual financial harm to client as claim was almost bound to fail