A former nightclub bouncer turned McKenzie friend who called an opponent a ‘fucking lying slag’ has been banned indefinitely from representing anyone in court.
Nigel Baggaley, described in court as the ‘moving spirit’ behind LLPs McKenzie Friends 4U and Diy Law Shop, threatened other lawyers, swore at ushers and phoned clerks to say he was ‘coming for’ an opposing barrister.
Baggaley, who has served served prison sentences for dishonesty and public order offences, was also found to have ‘faced up’ to a barrister in a court corridor, with the lawyer fearing he was about to be physically attacked or headbutted.
Two days after this court appearance in December 2013, Baggaley phoned a legal executive on the opposing side in a family case, responding to her opening words by saying ‘who the fuck do you think you are?’.
In October 2013 he had called the same lawyer a ‘fucking lying slag’ and five days later called her receptionist a ‘fucking lying bitch’.
The McKenzie friend, who admitted having no relevant training or professional qualifications, was made subject to an interim order in 2014 preventing him from acting for anyone else in court.
Sir James Munby, president of the Family Division, this week extended that order indefinitely following a three-day hearing last June.
Munby described Baggaley’s behaviour as ‘unacceptable’ and ‘disgraceful’ and said no one in the position of the legal executive should have to endure it.
‘The court corridor is not the entrance to a nightclub, and those going about their lawful business in a court do not expect to be treated as if by a bouncer,’ said Munby.
‘I am confronted with a lengthy list of incidents, the cumulative effect of which leaves me in no doubt that the court must exercise its inherent powers not just to protect itself but also to protect those lawfully going about their business.’
He added: ‘His misbehaviour as McKenzie friend has to be controlled. Given his repeated misconduct and the gravity of that misconduct, I am satisfied that Mr Baggaley’s misbehaviour can be adequately and appropriately controlled only by my extending the order indefinitely.’
Baggaley had denied swearing at an usher at Leicester Family Proceedings Court in January 2013 and said he had ‘beef’ with the person giving evidence against him.
In a later case in December 2013, Baggaley, who was representing a mother at Leicester County Court (pictured), responded to opposing counsel approaching his client by telling him to ‘shut up and go away’, before standing up and going face to face with the lawyer.
Baggaley told Munby he was acting in a ‘controlled manner’ in accordance with his training to be a bouncer.
Munby did set aside a civil restraint order made against Baggaley in 2012 for persistent claims lodged with the court. The judge said the original order was ‘in significant part bad on its face’.
Munby said Baggaley was able to litigate on his own behalf and could apply to lift the restraint on him acting as a McKenzie friend, although he said any application would be unlikely to succeed if made within the next two years.
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