For lay people like ourselves, legal writings are never easy to follow and trying to read and make sense of legal mumbo-jumbo often leaves us overwhelmed, underwhelmed or whatever. We do, however, recognise a stupid lawyer when we see one. David McKie, a Glasgow solicitor, falls precisely into that category.
The complaint arises from a notorious episode during the Covid era when our old friend, Baroness Michelle Mone, helped a company, PPE Medro, obtain a Government contract for the supply of medical equipment to hospitals etc. The equipment, allegedly worth some £300 million, turned out to be unfit for purpose and certain newspapers began inquiring into how the contract was awarded in the first place.
When the going got too hot for Michelle she instructed the highly litigious David to represent her. David replied to the newspapers with a volley of correspondence that even a child could see was threatening, intimidating, unduly aggressive and highly questionable. The Guardian newspaper didn't take this lying down and lodged a complaint with the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission.
The Commission decided the complaint should be placed before the Law Society of Scotland for consideration as a Misconduct Complaint. David appealed that decision to the Court of Session. The Court of Session had little difficulty in rejecting David's appeal so that there is every chance he can now expect an appointment with the Scottish Solicitors' Discipline Tribunal.
As we advised Michelle at the time, we told her to get shot of her lawyers as they were 'stupid beyond belief'. She should have taken our advice for free as we know only too well that when arrogance and stupidity collide there is always a problem.
Just ask Prince Andrew.