Spank and be damned

Here's one we bet the Law Society's indemnity insurance committee didn't think about when preparing the minimum terms and conditions - is a lawyer who spanks his client with the aim of preparing her for trial covered by insurance for a later action for sexual assault? The answer from a court in the US state of Connecticut, at least, is an unsurprising no.

According to the Connecticut Law Tribune, lawyer Milo Altschuler was preparing a female client to testify in her breach of peace case at the court when she began fidgeting.

The woman claimed that, before removing her panties and stockings, the lawyer said he needed to spank her so the judge didn't think she was lying.

Afterwards, he asked her if she would continue rubbing her hands together.

Apparently, she said she would stop, to which Mr Altschuler replied: 'Well, I guess it worked.' He was later convicted of sexual assault against the client and another woman, and apparently told the police that he often used the tactic so as to make clients more afraid of him than the prosecutor.

He was also reprimanded by the local bar.

Anyway, the client sued him and they agreed a $250,000 payout, although Mr Altschuler claimed he was penniless.

The client went after his professional indemnity insurer, but failed.

The insurer told the court (and it is difficult to argue with this): 'The perverted act of intentionally fondling the bare bottoms of female clients cannot [be] and is not part of the practice of law.' The judge agreed, but hinted that had the case been brought as a breach of duty in preparing the client to testify, she may have had more luck than just claiming over the assault.