Cash payment solicitor lawfully dismissed

A solicitor was lawfully dismissed for gross misconduct after accepting £150 in cash ‘posted’ through his car window, appeal judges ruled

A criminal defence solicitor was not unfairly dismissed for gross misconduct after accepting £150 in cash ‘posted’ through his car window, the Court of Appeal ruled. Paul Greenberg, who worked at DPP Law in Liverpool, said he had not considered the sum to be significant. The firm’s dismissal letter said accepting the payment breached its legal aid contract, bringing the company into serious disrepute. The court said the appeal tribunal had not adopted the proper approach and was wrong in upholding Greenberg’s appeal against dismissal.