Law Society’s Gazette, 15 April, 1981

Letter to the editor

Help PleaseDistress and Shock to Client on Receiving Inflated Tax Demand

We are acting for a client of an exceedingly nervous disposition and who has a heart condition. He recently received from the Inland Revenue notices of assessment to capital gains tax and income tax which were so ludicrously drawn that he was shocked, and suffered a severe heart attack.

His wife, who is also of a nervous disposition, was watching him as he opened the letters from the Revenue, and seeing the anguished look on his face, she fainted and hit her head on the floor and was severely concussed.

They have now consulted us and asked whether there is any redress they can have against the Revenue.

We would be interested to know whether any other solicitors have been confronted by similar cases?

Egerton, Sandler, Summer & Co; 17-18 Dover Street, London W1X 4QQ

Law Society’s Gazette, 10 April 1991

Double prejudiceAt Bow County Court while I was waiting for my case to be called, I overheard an interesting conversation. A rather loud, male barrister had just been explaining to his client (and to all of us in the waiting area) the difference between a district judge and a judge, referring, as he did so, to ‘he’ and to ‘him’.

‘It could be a woman,’ exclaimed his female client.

‘Yes’, he said quite matter of factly, ‘it could even be a solicitor.’

And we kid ourselves that the prejudices at the Bar are disappearing!John Gorringe, London E8

Bank deposit

I had a call from an elderly couple who each suffer from a disability and had to be taken to hospital at short notice, and were then convalescing in a nursing home. The clients were concerned about the jewellery which was left in the house, and I agreed to collect it and place it in the clients’ bank.

I telephoned the bank to ask what their requirements would be. I was told that it would be essential for the jewellery to be wrapped in a sealed package which the clients would have to sign across the sealing before the jewellery could be deposited. I suggested that I could sign as their solicitor, appreciating that this would mean that I would have to go and collect the jewellery when the clients were ready to have it returned, but was told that this was unacceptable.

Having to go to London that day, I had no alternative but to leave the jewellery in my firm’s strong room over the weekend.

On returning to the office on Monday, I received a letter from the bank which said that not only would the clients’ signature across the seals be required, but they would physically have to be present to deposit the jewellery at the bank.

If this is the best that the banks can do to help their customers, do we really need to fear any competition?

B Jones, Bristol