ConCourt rejects Bobroff appeal bid

Personal injury law firm Ronald Bobroff & Partners will have to hand over its books to the Law Society for inspection and submit to a disciplinary hearing following allegations of overcharging a client who claimed from the Road Accident Fund (RAF).

Ronald Bobroff & Partners this week lost its application to the Constitutional Court for leave to appeal against a High Court order that the Law Society of the Northern Provinces should inspect the law firm’s books of account.

In April, Gauteng High Court judge Billy Mothle ordered the Law Society to inspect Bobroff & Partners’ books within 30 days and to hold a disciplinary hearing against Ronald Bobroff and his son, Darren, within 60 days of his ruling.

Before turning to the Constitutional Court, Bobroff & Partners unsuccessfully applied to the Supreme Court of Appeal for leave to appeal against the order for the inspection.

Judge Mothle’s order was delivered in an application by a former Bobroff & Partners client and road accident victim, Matthew Graham. Graham turned to the court when the Law Society of the Northern Provinces failed to deal with his complaint that Bobroff ’s firm had overcharged him for assisting him to claim from the RAF.

The RAF awarded Graham R1.9 million, plus R300 000 in costs, but Bobroff ’s firm paid him only R1.1 million – less than 60 percent of the payout. – Staff Reporter