Nigel Copeland

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

The Respondent, admitted 1956, was instructed to pursue a client's claim against Manchester City Council. He wrote fictitious letters claiming proceedings had been issued and a £5,000 offer made, and sought to persuade the client to accept it, when in fact no proceedings had been issued and no offer existed. New solicitors settled the claim for £11,000. The Tribunal found the letters deceitful and his conduct dishonest, and, despite personal mitigation, ordered him struck off and to pay costs of £1,669.19.

Duties found breached:

• No taking unfair advantage
• No conflict between current clients
• Handle inadvertently received material

Aggravating factors:

• Prior disciplinary appearances in 1984 and 1986 for similar conduct including misleading clients and failing to answer correspondence
• Wove an elaborate tissue of lies via fictitious letters claiming proceedings issued and offer made
• Persuaded client to accept a non-existent £5,000 offer when claim was worth three times as much
• Failed to reply to OSS or attend the hearing

Mitigating factors:

• Aged 69 and retired from practice, surrendered practising certificate
• Wife in serious ill health
• Expressed remorse and apologised
• Repaid client £4,000 plus £1,000 costs