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Miners' lawyers lose ban appeal Miners' lawyers lose ban appeal
(21 minutes later)
Solicitors who took millions of pounds from compensation payouts given to sick miners have lost their appeal against being struck off for misconduct.Solicitors who took millions of pounds from compensation payouts given to sick miners have lost their appeal against being struck off for misconduct.
James Beresford and Douglas Smith of Doncaster-based Beresfords Solicitors had denied 11 counts of serious professional misconduct. James Beresford and Douglas Smith, formerly of Doncaster-based Beresfords Solicitors, had denied 11 counts of serious professional misconduct.
A tribunal last year found eight of the allegations against them proven.A tribunal last year found eight of the allegations against them proven.
Three High Court judges have now upheld the tribunal decision to strike them off the Roll of Solicitors.Three High Court judges have now upheld the tribunal decision to strike them off the Roll of Solicitors.
The Solicitors' Disciplinary Tribunal was told last year that the men had acted "unacceptably" by charging clients event though the government was paying their fees.
'Nothing wrong'
The partners were later struck off the Roll of Solicitors for conduct unbefitting solicitors.
High Court judges ruled on Wednesday that the tribunal had been entitled to make "a cumulative series of findings of very serious misconduct on a huge scale in relation to thousands of vulnerable clients".
Beresford, 59, who was said in 2007 to be one of Britain's highest-earning solicitors, and Smith, 53, made millions of pounds from personal injury claims for miners under the government's coal health compensation scheme.
The law firm had argued there was "absolutely nothing wrong" with earning substantial fees from its business conduct.
Simon McMillan, a partner at Beresfords Solicitors, said: "This is a matter that concerns two former partners who left the business over 12 months ago.
"They will no doubt be carefully considering their options as to what steps to take to clear their names."