Interview found solicitor bragging about how he had rarely lost cases
AN UNDERCOVER interview with a solicitor advertising ‘no win, no fee’ services for personal injury claims found the solicitor bragging about rarely losing cases – and how companies rarely pursue fraudulent claims.
The solicitor, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told about two of his former clients who fraudulently claimed but “didn’t end up paying costs”.
He also encouraged the reporter to pursue the claim by saying: “The nightclub is bringing you in and charging you for drinks, so on their back be it.”
And he added that the reporter looked injured by the way she was sitting, despite not having any real injuries.
As can be heard in an audio clip available on independent.ie, the solicitor said: “I’ve only lost two cases in 10 years and that’s because they were chancers with fraudulent claims [laughs] and even then they didn’t go after them for costs, they usually don’t.”
The scenario that was being presented to the solicitor was a slip and fall in a particular Dublin nightclub.
The solicitor said: “We’ve had a couple of slips and falls, a couple of good cases [against this club]. There was one where a girl slipped and fell and got glass in her knee and I think she got like €80,000.”
They added: “I didn’t actually ask you what kind of injuries you sustained?”
Reporter: “I was off work for a couple of days and I’ve had spasms in my neck.”
Solicitor: “So whiplash yeah...”
The reporter said she had around seven or eight drinks and wasn’t sure if there was a wet floor sign on the dance floor after it had been cleaned.
The reporter also asked if there would be a contributory negligence element because they had seen the member of staff mopping the floor and still walked over there.
The solicitor then replied: “Of course they can [say that] but you would be saying well, I assumed when he was there mopping, he was after drying up, he wasn’t after leaving more water, so there’s ways around that as well.
“They [defences like that] never really wash as that’s their whole premise. You are there to dance and have a few drinks and to have a good time.
“They are bringing you in and charging you for the drinks, so on their back be it,” the solicitor added.
The nightclub is bringing you in and charging you for drinks, so on their back be it