Introduction
Welcome to the Irish Claims Board’s solicitor disciplinary records page. We believe that understanding solicitor conduct is crucial for anyone navigating the claims process. Remember, the Irish Claims Board offers a free assessment on claims—we should be your first port of call before engaging a solicitor. Our expert team is here to provide clear, unbiased advice, empowering you to make informed decisions without cost or commitment. This page highlights disciplinary records to help you stay aware of solicitor conduct and choose trustworthy professionals when needed.
Michele Caulfield Redacted 06/11/2017 In the matter of Michele Caulfield, solicitor, and in the matter of the Solicitors Acts 1954-2015 [12575/DT94/16 and High Court record 2017 no 71 SA] Law Society of Ireland (applicant) Michele Caulfield (respondent solicitor) On 4 July 2017, the Solicitor Disciplinary Tribunal found the respondent solicitor guilty of professional misconduct in her practice as a solicitor in that she: 1) Created a shortfall of €261,968.30 on clients’ funds in her employer’s practice by her misappropriation of client funds and by transferring funds between unrelated accounts, 2) On 31 July 2013, requisitioned two cheques to purchase bank drafts payable to Bank of Ireland for €34,639.02 and €25,000 from the ledger account of a minor deceased and misappropriated these funds by lodging €25,000 to her own bank account and €34,639.02 to her father’s company’s account, 3) On 16 November 2012, requisitioned a cheque to purchase a sterling bank draft of £21,500 (€27,143.41) from the ledger account of a named deceased and misappropriated these funds by using this draft to pay a car dealer in Newry for the purchase of a car, 4) On 11 January 2013, requisitioned three further cheques from a named estate made payable to St Vincent’s Private Hospital (€842.59), Mount Carmel Hospital (€698.60) and Bank of Ireland (€8,000), which were unrelated to the client matter, thereby depriving the estate of these funds, 5) On 30 June 2015, requisitioned a client account cheque for €12,500 from a named estate and misappropriated the funds by purchasing a bank draft payable to a named motor dealer, and then tried to conceal the payments made by describing same as ‘balance due to residuary beneficiary’, 6) Withdrew €10,600 on 15 May 2015 from the ledger account of a minor deceased by requisitioning a bank draft payable to a named individual and misappropriated same by paying it to the named individual, a car dealer, a payment unconnected with the matter, 7) Wrongfully alleged that the bank had made an overpayment of €20,000 in a named estate, thereby depriving the estate of €20,000 properly due to it, 8) Arranged for an altered copy of a bank draft showing €78,272.10 (purporting to be the correct figure) to be placed on file in the estate of a named deceased and arranged for a corrective affidavit to be prepared for Revenue, altered the cash account, and wrongfully informed the beneficiaries of the lesser amount, 9) Used the €20,000 misappropriated from the estate of the named deceased to make a number of payments unrelated to this estate, including a number of personal payments, 10) Used €8,709.83, including a refund by a nursing home of €7,264.05, for her personal use from the estate of a named deceased by lodging funds to the solicitor’s personal bank account, 11) Took €5,000 from the estate of a named deceased and lodged same to the account of a company owned by the solicitor’s father, 12) In the estate of a named deceased, requisitioned a cheque for €34,404.20, described as funds due to a beneficiary, but misappropriated same by lodging it to her personal bank account, 13) In the estate of a named deceased, requisitioned a cheque to Bank of Ireland for the balance of the ledger account of €7,506.46, which payment was not made to the beneficiary, 14) In the estate of a named deceased, took the sum of €1,059.70 from the client account as ‘payment of administration bond’ addressed to Avalon Insurance, but wrongfully used same to pay moneys due to Avalon Insurance for the benefit of her father, 15) In the estate of a named deceased, wrongfully used a cheque for €1,500 on 3 July 2015 to pay her named obstetrician, 16) Made transfers in eight different instances between unrelated ledger accounts, thereby causing a shortfall in the client funds of those accounts affected. The tribunal ordered that the matter be sent forward to the High Court and, on Monday 6 November 2017, in High Court proceedings 2017 no 71 SA, the High Court made an order striking the name of the respondent solicitor from the Roll of Solicitors. Details for Michele Caulfield
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