A crooked solicitor who left relatives of a termin

A crooked solicitor who left relatives of a terminally ill man distraught when he bungled his bedside will has been kicked out of the legal profession.

Investigators also found Jerry Dowd, 41, had taken pnds stlg 13,307.

04 from his client’s coffers, the solicitor’s disciplinary tribunal heard.

Dowd claimed family pressures caused him to make a string of errors but was told his behaviour could not be overlooked.

Stephen Battersby told the tribunal the errors occurred when Mr Dowd ran his own firm, Jerry F Dowd, from premises in Birmingham Road, Wylde Green, Sutton Coldfield.

‘I am not alleging that he stole client’s money but he acted improperly and in using false documents gave misleading information to the probate registry,’ Mr Battersby said.

‘Documents have been used in court proceedings and witnesses thought they were genuine.

‘There has been some upset caused to clients and witnesses by this.

‘

Mr Battersby here were several incidents where Dowd failed to get vital legal documents properly witnessed.

On one occasion he was asked to apply to the High Court for a debenture but inquiries revealed he failed to have the document sworn under strict
legal guidelines.

On October 18, 1999 he was asked to supervise a bedside will for a sick client who sadly died two days later.

The will was handwritten in the man’s home, said Mr Battersby.

But the will was incomplete because there were not two people there who were eligible to witness the document.

‘Two ladies in the house asked Mr Dowd about will being witnessed and he assured them because he was a solicitor everything would be all right,’ Mr Battersby said.

The beneficiary of the will later had to consult other solicitors to resolve the error.

In another will bungle Dowd stated partners in Jerry F Dowd were executors of a will.

But Dowd could not make the claim because he was the sole practitioner.

However he later made another application to a different registry and got an accountant to act as the second trustee, ‘which showed a degree of calculation on his part,’ said Mr Battersby.

Dowd’s solicitor Arthur Titterton said his client admitted he made some fundamental errors but he was under ‘great pressure.

‘

‘He did not intend any harm or gain but he must have rationalised what he was doing on each of those days,’ Mr Titterton said.

Dowd came under the strain of a troubled domestic situation where his unsupportive wife often left him looking after his five children during office hours and in the evenings, Mr Titterton said

Mr Dowd admitted three allegations: the late filing of accounts reports; the improper withdrawal of money from clients accounts; and preparing false and misleading documents.

Panel chairman David Faull told Mr Dowd: ‘This is a very sad case but it’s important to view there has been not less than five cases of dishonesty.

‘We really cannot overlook these matters.

Such behaviour can only serve to undermine the profession.

‘In the circumstances the tribunal has only one choice but to strike you off.

‘

Mr Dowd, of Wren’s Park Avenue, Walmley, Sutton Coldfield, was also ordered to pay costs of pnds stlg 5,875.

ends