Lawyer called client a ‘sad and pathetic man’ in heated discussion

A Tayside lawyer has been reprimanded after calling a client “a sad and pathetic man” in a heated discussion over legal instructions.

Ross Porter, who ran his own practice in Perth, sent a series of emails to the man and his mother after taking issue with legal instructions they wanted him to carry out.

The man, whose name has been redacted from public documents, had asked for advice in a dispute with a letting agent.

Mr Porter, 56, believed the man, named as Mr A, was seeking a “completely unrealistic” amount of money from the agent and ultimately said he did not have a case.

In 2014 Mr A’s mother had sought to sue a builder about the cost of a job and Mr Porter’s services were called upon.

However, a bitter dispute ensued when Mr A and his mother suggested appointing a surveyor of their choosing. Mr Porter and Mr A then engaged in an angry email exchange about legal knowledge, resulting in the lawyer telling the woman to “keep your son out of my way”.

She then dismissed the solicitor and Mr Porter replied, telling Mr A he had an “enormous chip on your shoulder”.

He added: “You are obviously unemployable, or lazy or stupid, probably all three.

“You are a sad and pathetic man. You are argumentative, arrogant, pedantic and literal, the last vestiges of a fool.”

The man submitted a complaint to the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission (SLCC).

A panel convened by the Scottish Solicitors’ Discipline Tribunal concluded that Mr Porter was guilty of professional misconduct, censured him, and ordered him to pay the complainers’ costs.

In mitigation, Mr Porter said he took full responsibility for the misconduct, and blamed it on tiredness and stress.

He stated he had no intention of returning to legal work.

Mr Porter has been contacted for comment.