Lindsey Christine Cooper, John Nimmo and Colin Gerard SinclairApplication 7989/1999Hearing, 18 January 2000;reasons, 16 March 2000

The respondents, Mrs Cooper (admitted in 1978) of 236 Church St, Blackpool, Lancs, and Mr Nimmo (admitted in 1985) of the same address, were found by the SDT to have employed or remunerated the respondent Mr Sinclair (admitted in 1989) of 2nd Floor Flat, 6 Central Beech, Lytham FY8 5LB, knowing that he had been suspended from practice, contrary to s.41(1) and (4) of the Solicitors Act 1974.

The SDT also found that Mr Sinclair had practised as a solicitor although he was subject to a period of indefinite suspension from practice.

In the circumstances outlined in application 7514/1997 [1998] Gazette, 14 October, 45, the SDT had imposed a period of suspension on Mr Sinclair.

At a time of considerable pressure Mrs Cooper and Mr Nimmo, who were competent solicitors who exercised the proper standards of probity, integrity and trustworthiness and managed their practice in exemplary fashion, had misdirected themselves and had not taken the trouble to check that their proposed arrangement with Mr Sinclair was in order.

When the enormity of the situation revealed itself they had behaved in exemplary fashion.

Statute required Mrs Cooper and Mr Nimmo either to be struck off or suspended from practice; each was suspended for one week, Mrs Cooper for one week commencing 21 February 2000 and Mr Nimmo for one week commencing 14 February 2000.

Mr Sinclair was struck off the Roll on 18 January 2000.

Mr Sinclair was ordered to pay costs (to be assessed), subject to a contribution of 750 from each of the other two respondents.