petercherbi1
Shamed Lawyer in Tennis Racket - Sunday Mail 21 October 2007
www.sundaymail.co.uk/news/scottish-news/2007/10/21/shamed...
Shamed Lawyer In Tennis Racket
Oct 21 2007 By Russell Findlay
Exclusive Brief Accused Of Stringing Along Court With Excuses
A SHAMED lawyer missed a string of dates to defend himself against complaints - because he was too busy playing tennis.
Michael Robson gave the crazy excuse to Scotland's highest court after appealing against a punishment for ignoring clients' wishes.
He was disciplined by legal watchdogs in 2005 but the ruling remained secret because he appealed to the Court of Session.
Robson, 55, missed a court date in April last year as he was working as a Lawn Tennis Association coach.
In May 2006, he went on a two-day tennis training course in England and that September he was at a tennis "leaders course".
Client Peter Cherbi plans to sue Robson for failing to act in a medical negligence claim over the death of his mother in 2000.
Mr Cherbi claims Robson's delays may be a tactic to avoid a court case.
He said: "The deadline for my action against Mr Robson is next year when it will become time barred.
"I suspect he is cynically playing for time. It is extraordinary judges should accept a tennis match is more important than a court appearance." In 2001 the Scottish Solicitors' Discipline Tribunal found Robson had ignored 50 letters from the Law Society, criticised his "cavalier attitude" and ordered that he work under supervision for three years.
In 2002 he was struck off but that was reduced to five-years of supervision on appeal.
He is banned from working as a solicitor as result of the 2005 ruling.
When we called Robson, of Ratho, Edinburgh, he said he would phone back but failed to do so.
Shamed Lawyer in Tennis Racket - Sunday Mail 21 October 2007
www.sundaymail.co.uk/news/scottish-news/2007/10/21/shamed...
Shamed Lawyer In Tennis Racket
Oct 21 2007 By Russell Findlay
Exclusive Brief Accused Of Stringing Along Court With Excuses
A SHAMED lawyer missed a string of dates to defend himself against complaints - because he was too busy playing tennis.
Michael Robson gave the crazy excuse to Scotland's highest court after appealing against a punishment for ignoring clients' wishes.
He was disciplined by legal watchdogs in 2005 but the ruling remained secret because he appealed to the Court of Session.
Robson, 55, missed a court date in April last year as he was working as a Lawn Tennis Association coach.
In May 2006, he went on a two-day tennis training course in England and that September he was at a tennis "leaders course".
Client Peter Cherbi plans to sue Robson for failing to act in a medical negligence claim over the death of his mother in 2000.
Mr Cherbi claims Robson's delays may be a tactic to avoid a court case.
He said: "The deadline for my action against Mr Robson is next year when it will become time barred.
"I suspect he is cynically playing for time. It is extraordinary judges should accept a tennis match is more important than a court appearance." In 2001 the Scottish Solicitors' Discipline Tribunal found Robson had ignored 50 letters from the Law Society, criticised his "cavalier attitude" and ordered that he work under supervision for three years.
In 2002 he was struck off but that was reduced to five-years of supervision on appeal.
He is banned from working as a solicitor as result of the 2005 ruling.
When we called Robson, of Ratho, Edinburgh, he said he would phone back but failed to do so.