Joanne Elizabeth Coughlan

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

The Respondent, a solicitor at SS&B, created back-dated correspondence (letters dated 26 January 2013 but actually created on 29 January 2013) to mislead an opposing party and the Court into believing she had complied with an unless order to serve medical evidence in a personal injury claim. She also misrepresented to her employer the date the letter had been sent. She admitted the allegations. The Tribunal found both allegations and dishonesty proved beyond reasonable doubt under the Twinsectra test, finding no exceptional circumstances under Sharma. She was struck off the Roll and ordered to pay costs of £2,500.

Duties found breached:

• Integrity
• Uphold public trust in the profession
• Serve justice and improve the law

Aggravating factors:

• Dishonesty at the highest end of seriousness as it involved misleading a Court
• No immediate confession; she maintained a false explanation when challenged
• Conduct performed to protect her own position

Mitigating factors:

• Conduct found to be out of character and a one-off situation
• Previously unblemished career with no prior disciplinary matters
• Described by partner as a hard-working, valued and normally truthful member of the team
• Eventually admitted being untruthful and expressed remorse
• Admitted the allegations