Margaret Anne Davies

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

Margaret Anne Davies, admitted 1980, was found guilty of conduct unbefitting a solicitor. While employed as an assistant solicitor she took a client's (Mr H's) personal injury files on her departure, failed to return them despite repeated assurances, allowed the claim to become statute-barred, and misled the client into believing his case was progressing and that a £5,000 settlement offer had been made when no proceedings had ever been issued. She also repeatedly failed to respond to the OSS and did not comply with an Adjudication Panel direction to deliver up documents. The Tribunal found all allegations substantiated, deemed her not fit to practise, struck her off the Roll, and ordered agreed costs of £2,750. The Tribunal found she had 'deliberately misled' the client and referenced the requirement of probity and integrity, but made no express finding of dishonesty.

Duties found breached:

• Not mislead third parties or opponents
• Proper termination and return of instructions
• Advise on alternatives, settlement and outcome
• Handle inadvertently received material
• No improper solicitation or touting

Aggravating factors:

• Deliberately misled a client
• Allowed the claim to become statute-barred
• Repeated failures to respond to the professional body
• Non-compliance with the Adjudication Panel direction
• No credible explanation offered
• Did not attend the hearing

Mitigating factors:

• File was eventually produced with no suggestion papers were destroyed
• Matter settled by the Respondent's insurer in the sum of £9,000
• Personal circumstances preventing attendance; single parent on income support