Richard George Hunt

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

Richard George Hunt, a Norfolk solicitor, faced 29 allegations of conduct unbefitting a solicitor spanning multiple clients over many years, including chronic delay, failure to keep clients informed, failure to hand over files, failure to comply with court and OSS orders, misleading clients/third parties/the OSS, and Solicitors Accounts Rules breaches. He admitted the underlying facts but denied deliberate deception, attributing failings to overwork and ill health. The Tribunal found all allegations substantiated, including that in the Mr PRS and Mr W matters he had misled deliberately or recklessly ('at best recklessly and at worst dishonestly'), though no express, unequivocal finding of dishonesty was made. Given the cumulative seriousness and a prior 1998 disciplinary sanction, and for public protection, the Tribunal struck him off the Roll and ordered him to pay costs subject to detailed assessment.

Duties found breached:

• Comply with and respect court orders
• Not mislead third parties or opponents
• Keep client informed and respond promptly
• Continuity and handover of representation
• Advise on alternatives, settlement and outcome
• No conflict between current clients
• Manage conflict arising mid-matter
• Prompt accounting and return of money
• No improper solicitation or touting

Aggravating factors:

• Persistent, repeated failures affecting numerous clients over a long period
• Aggressive and confrontational attitude to criticism; failure to accept responsibility
• Damage caused to clients and staff
• Prior 1998 disciplinary finding with indefinite suspension for failing to pay agent's fees and comply with a Law Society direction
• Failure to take steps to remedy situation until forced to do so
• Two instances of deliberately misleading clients

Mitigating factors:

• Pressure of work, ill health (back and knee surgery) and lack of staff/support
• No financial impropriety and no client lost money
• Took constructive steps to transfer practice intact into competent hands, benefiting clients
• Paid compensation ordered (e.g. £5,000 to Mr PRS, £1,500 to Mr W, £2,000 to Miss C, £500 to Mr D) and bore costs personally
• Recognised reality of situation and expressed regret by the time of the hearing
• Had fully retired from practice and no longer held a practising certificate