Claims solicitors asked to appear before tribunal
Dozens of
claims solicitors dealing with cases involving miners have been asked to appear before the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal regarding the work they have conducted with relation to miner’s compensation claims.
Among those appearing before the Tribunal is Jim Beresford, who has personally amassed more than £30 million in profit by working with sick miners to claim compensation. Beresford, the highest earning lawyer last year, is head of Beresfords, a legal firm based in Doncaster, who have made £140 million in total profit from their cases involving the health of coal miners. The firm have registered more than 90,000 claims relating to former British coal miners with illnesses caused by lung-dust or hand injuries caused by using vibrating machinery for extended periods of time.
Across Britain, more than 69% of cases cost the government more to administer the claims than the miners themselves received in compensation. Tens of thousands of miners also received less than £1,000 as a result of their claims.
Updated on 15/06/2008