Miners' solicitors face tribunal

Mr Beresford earned almost £17m in 2006

Two solicitors who specialise in winning personal injury claims for sick miners will face a tribunal accused of taking cuts from compensation pay-outs.

Jim Beresford, 58, and partner Douglas Smith, 51, from Beresfords Solicitors in Doncaster, have earned millions of pounds from the personal injury claims.

The men deny 11 allegations of misconduct.

The money was paid to the miners under the government's coal health compensation scheme.

The men are accused of failing to act in the best interests of their clients, not giving adequate advice and entering into contingency fee deals against their clients' best interests.

Similar cases

The Solicitors Regulatory Authority (SRA) is investigating a number of similar cases after firms reaped massive sums of money through case referral fees.

The compensation relates to miners suffering conditions such as respiratory disease and vibration white finger from the 1970s onwards.

The SRA said about 25 firms had so far been referred to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal in relation to miners' compensation cases.

Some 40 investigations have been concluded and the tribunal has fined eight solicitors up to £15,000 each.

In addition, a further 30 solicitors have been reprimanded and the SRA has overseen the repayment to miners of £350,000.

Beresfords Solicitors has handled more than 80,820 claims for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, settling 60,322 cases with payments averaging £2,508.

In the year to September 2006, Mr Beresford earned almost £17m.

If the partners are found guilty of professional misconduct they face the possibility of being struck off, suspended or fined.

The tribunal starts in London on Monday.