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Department should, where appropriate, write to the
beneficiaries in the terms of the approved draft
letter. This letter, if adopted, will inform the
beneficiaries that they should in their own interests
consult solicitors and that if the Department’s
services are required, the statutory fees will be
charged.
The proposals recommended by the
Committee have been submitted to the Department.
Liability o f Solicitors for Medical Fees.
A
m e m b e r
acting for the plaintiff in a running-down
action wrote to a doctor for a report on the client’s
injuries. The doctor sent the report with a covering
letter which stated “ I am sending you the report
which you requested on the understanding that you
undertake to pay my fees for attending the plaintiff,
namely, £2
zs.
and a fee o f £ 2
zs.
for the report.”
Member retained the report.
Proceedings were
never instituted and no fees were received by member
from the client. On a request for advice, the Council
expressed the opinion that member was liable to
pay the sum o f
£z zs.
for the medical report. He
was not liable for the doctor’s claim for treating
the patient. In the opinion o f the Council, a solicitor
who writes to a doctor requesting a medical report
on behalf o f a client is normally liable in the absence
o f a stipulation to the contrary for the doctor’s
fee for the report as a matter o f professional etiquette.
No opinion was expressed on the question o f legal
liability.
Privilege against disclosure ; Client’s address.
M
ember
acted for a defendant in proceedings
claiming a liquidated demand and on the client’s
instructions accepted service o f a civil bill under
taking to enter an appearance and defence. The
client instructed member to take whatever action
he thought necessary. She then changed her address
and member was unaware o f her whereabouts.
Member was unable to file the defence in compliance
with his undertaking. The plaintiff’s solicitors asked
member to disclose the client’s last known address.
Member asked the guidance o f the Council as to
whether he was prohibited from
g i v in g
the informa
tion by the client’s privilege. The Committee, whose
report was adopted, expressed the opinion that
member might disclose the client’s last known
address, as the information was not privileged
against disclosure.
Dublin Solicitors’ Bar Association.
T
he
Association was given permission to put up
a notice board in the Solicitors’ Buildings.
EXAMINATION RESULTS.
A
t
Examinations held on the 29th and 30th days
of January, 1954 under the Legal Practitioners
77
(Qualification) Act, 1929, the following passed the
examinations :—
First Examination in Irish.
Kenneth Leitch Armstrong, Timothy H. Crowley,
Donald T. Ellis, Fergus Lauri Fahy, Michael Joseph
Fitzsimons, Noel A. Foley, Jill Greensmith, Michael
Patrick Keane, Bernard M. C. McDermott, Liam
MacHale, Martin Enda Marren, James Kevin Martin,
Clive Hunter Murphy, John D. Nugent, Paschal
O’Brien, Patrick O’Brien, Franklin John O’Sullivan,
Fergus Patrick Taaffe.
26 candidates attended; 18 passed.
Second Examination in Irish.
Mathias Buchalter, Valentine P. J. Carney, John
J. Cooke, Gerald B. Coulter, George H. Crawford,
Michael P. Donnelly, Kevin J. Early, John A.
Gaynor, Patrick A. Glynn, Nicholas S. Hughes,
Sean Kelly, John E. McCurtain, Donough B.
McDonough, Patrick P. MacMahon, Timothy
Murphy, John M. O’Connor, Patrick J. F. O’Connor,
Aidan O’Donnell, Gerard O’Malley, Mairead F.
T. Ruttledge, Patrick F. Treacy.
27 candidates attended ; 21 passed.
EASTER VACATION
Easter Vacation will commence on Monday, 12th
April and will end on Saturday, 24th April.
SOLICITORS’ BENEVOLENT
ASSOCIATION.
T
he
ninetieth annual meeting o f the Association
was held in the Solicitors’ Buildings on Friday,
29th January. The Chairman, Mr. R. A. O ’Brien,
in moving the adoption o f the annual report said
that while the gross ordinary income at £2261 12s. 9d.
was slightly up on last year there was a small drop
in annual subscriptions. The expenditure on relief
amounted to £2052 10s. 6d. Mr. O’Brien referred
to the fact that no deduction may be made from a
solicitor’s income assessable to tax for provision
for old age or infirmity. Solicitors found it impos
sible to make adequate provision for old age or
infirmity, and this factor combined with the ever
increasing cost of living accounted for some of the
cases on the Society’s books. He referred to the
necessity of increasing the Society’s income and to
a suggestion that the present annual subscription
should be raised. A substantial increase in member
ship would bring in additional funds which are
urgently needed, and he appealed to members to
assist the Directors in obtaining additional members.