20 Dec 2013

Lawyer censured by tribunal

11:22 am on 20 December 2013

An Auckland lawyer's been censured for settling a case without clearing it with his client.

The Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal took action against Grant Donald Richard Shand, who admitted a charge of negligence or incompetence in his professional capacity as to bring the profession into disrepute.

The Law Society says a client of Mr Shand initially accepted a settlement offer of $120,000 in cash and $30,000 in instalments but then changed his mind and wanted to reject the offer.

It says Mr Shand devised a way to make the settlement proposal work and persuaded himself he was acting within his instructions, settling the matter without clearing it with his client.

The Tribunal censured Mr Shand and ordered him to pay $19,000 in compensation, and legal and hearing costs totalling about $20,000.