Mesh lawyer closed down for suspected dishonesty
How much more must mesh-injured women endure? The latest news that a lawyer has been closed down for suspected dishonesty has left our members understandably angry and distraught.
Darren Hanison of Fortitude Law had taken on the cases of many women in Sling The Mesh – the intervention means he can no longer act for them.
Having given their most personal and upsetting details of mesh injuries, and put their trust in this man, women must now start over again to find a new lawyer. Some feel too tired, ill or worn down to do it.
The situation is a stark reminder that financial redress must be given to women harmed by mesh, Sodium Valproate and Primodos in a timely and non-adversarial manner as outlined as a key recommendation in the Cumberlege First Do No Harm report We should not have to fight through the legal system to receive compensation for ruined lives. Redress Means Respect.
Comments on our support group and social media give the human impact of Hanison’s dishonesty:
- This is a disgraceful situation. Women are having to deal with health issues and pain. Family life changed forever. I hope justice prevails. So sad for the women he was representing.
- This is a disgraceful situation. Women are having to deal with health issues and pain. Family life changed forever. I hope justice prevails. So sad for the women he was representing.
- I’ve not slept, still shocked and numb.
- I feel crushed. I’ve contacted the Law Society but all they did was give me some local solicitor numbers and have rung them all. No one seems to want to take the case on now, due to the time constraints. Also they don’t appear to understand the complications of mesh. I feel like I’ve gone a bit crazy and maybe all these symptoms are in my head.
- That’s just awful. Our trust is already shattered and now we cannot even trust some lawyers.
- Absolute disgrace that we have to find a new solicitor.
- We were innocent victims in all this. Harmed by mesh, then doctors didn’t take us seriously. The government still hasn’t agreed to giving us financial redress and now this. It’s too much. I am stressed and exhausted with it all.
What happens now?
- If you were a client of Darren Hanison (Fortitude Law) you will need to find a new solicitor. You can find a list of solicitors in England and Wales on the Law Society’s website. However, our experience is that they will just give you a number for a local lawyer in your area.
- Many members have had more success by contacting the charity for patient safety and justice AVMA who are well aware of the mesh scandal and can help you find a new lawyer. AvMA lawyers are accredited by them which means the lawyers they refer to have demonstrated expertise and experience in clinical negligence and are specialists in this complex area of law.
- The files that were held at the offices of Darren Hanison (Fortitude Law) are now held by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. To find out how to recover your file, please see the Interventions page.
- The bank accounts of Darren Hanison (Fortitude Law) have been frozen and all monies which were held in those accounts have been transferred to the Solicitors Regulation Authority and are being held on behalf of clients. If you think the firm should have been holding money on your behalf, please see the SRA Interventions page.
- Contact the Interventions Team on 01202 786341 or by email at interventions@LA-Law.com. You can also find out more on the SRA’s website. Chris Evans is the appointed agent.
