Solicitor is struck off after tribunal

A solicitor from Chesterfield has been struck off for falsifying correspondence she then presented to solicitors opposing her case, as well as the court that would be hearing the matter.

By The Newsroom

Published 15th Mar 2014, 10:00 BST

Joanne Coughlan, of Spire Heights, who was working at Simpson Sissons & Brooke Solicitors in Sheffield at the time, sent backdated letters she had created to an opposing firm and to Northampton County Court, the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) heard on Wednesday, March 5.

Ms Coughlan was acting in a personal injury case at the time, and lied about the date on the letters to make it appear that she had complied with a court order to submit medical evidence.

When questioned by her firm about the dates, Ms Coughlan initially maintained that she had sent the letters on time. The case against her was brought by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).

As well as striking off Ms Coughlan, the SDT ordered her to pay costs of £2,500.

Chesterfield Sheffield