Coltart law firm unprofessional, judge declares

A LAW firm in which controversial MDC politician Mr David Coltart is a senior partner has been ordered to pay a client more than $12 000 after bungling a case.

A former High Court judge Justice Francis Bere blasted Webb, Low and Barry Legal Practitioners where Mr Coltart is a senior partner, for “lacking” professionalism.

Justice Bere who is now a Supreme Court judge lashed out at Mr Coltart’s law firm in his judgment following an application by Mr David Addenbrooke citing Messrs David Coltart, Josphat Tshuma and Norman James Pattison as defendants.

Mr Addenbrooke sought an order directing the defendants to compensate him after the sale of his property following a default judgment entered against him due to an act of negligence by Webb, Low and Barry Legal Practitioners.

Mr Addenbrooke, who was represented by Job Sibanda and Associates in the case against Coltart’s law firm, lost property worth $10 300 after it was sold in execution as a result of the bungling by Mr Coltart’s law firm.

In a landmark ruling, Justice Bere ordered the defendants to compensate Mr Addenbrooke $10 300 including $2 507 being the legal fees he incurred in the lawsuit.

“In the result, the defendants are hereby found liable jointly and severally, the one paying the others absolved in the following amounts: (1) The sum of $10 300 being the proved cost of the plaintiff ’s sold goods.

(2) The sum of $2 507 being legal fees paid by the plaintiff to Messrs Hwalima-Moyo Legal Practitioners

(3) Interest on the amounts granted from the date of summons to date of payment in full and costs of suit,” ruled the judge.

The plaintiff ’s property which was auctioned included a Toyota Cressida and household property.

Mr Addenbrooke was in August 2011 involved in an accident in which one Ms Portia Mhere sustained injuries.

He was arrested, convicted of negligent driving and fined $400.