Ban for 'crusader' who gave hope to mis-selling victims

A solicitor who gave endowment mortgage victims hopes of a legal route to compensation has been banned from practicing for a year.

Joseph Aaron, from Ilford, Essex said he could obtain legal redress for endowment mis-selling, a claim that received publicity in newspapers including Jobs & Money, in summer 2000. Anxious homebuyers signed up - sending paperwork and upfront payments averaging £400 each.

But nothing happened. And their hopes were finally shattered, two years later, when he admitted he could not obtain the necessary legal expenses insurance for the case. Readers complained over a lack of refunds and that requests for the return of documents were not met.

But what was not known was that Aaron, a sole practioner, had a Law Society disciplinary record. He was not obliged to reveal this.

The problems date back to 1992 and include issues such as providing inadequate service to clients, failing to account for costs, and for "conduct unbecoming a solicitor".

In 1998, a Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal fined him £2,000. The tribunal said he had failed "to act in accor dance with instructions given by clients". It said "his behaviour in this matter (involving a fee in an earlier case) had been outrageous."

Aaron said he was "being victimised or unfairly targeted" by the Law Society.

In May 2002, a new tribunal made 14 allegations including delays in sending monies, and giving "evidence on oath which was inaccurate and misleading."

This tribunal suspended him from practicing for two years in October 2002. Aaron fought this decision, going to the Court of Appeal. Eventually, his suspension was cut to a year, starting in February.

His firm was shut. Now Si mon Aaron & Co works from the same address. Simon Aaron - Joseph Aaron's son- says: "The group endowment action was disbanded. When I opened this new practice in March, I arranged for all the remaining payments to be refunded. There are some original documents left. I am acting for the Law Society in holding these until they are claimed."

Joseph Aaron says he was "properly regulated by the Law Society" and was not obliged to reveal his disciplinary record. "No one has lost. I have had run-ins with the Law Society and have paid a price for taking on the establishment."