Career at risk for lawyer who allegedly cheated accident victim’s family

[snoop1130]

Career at risk for lawyer who allegedly cheated accident victim’s family

By Kornkamol Aksorndej
The Nation

 

 

A lawyer who allegedly cheated a road accident’s victim and her family out of their compensation is now facing the risk of losing his licence and legal career.

 

The Lawyers Council of Thailand said on Monday that the alleged offence by Pisit Sammalert was so serious that the council might remove him from its list of qualified lawyers.

 

“We are preparing to launch an investigation,” said the council’s vice president, acting Major Sombat Wongkamhaeng, who also chairs the Thai Bar’s committee on legal help for people. 

 

Sombat and Justice Ministry deputy permanent secretary Tawatchai Thaikyo have also announced plans to help the victims – Porntip Chantharat and her wheelchair-bound daughter, Pattarada “Beam” Kaewpong.

 

In 2005, a truck crashed into a pickup carrying the family in an accident that killed Porntip’s husband and seriously injured both her and their daughter. 

 

Due to spinal injuries sustained in the accident, Pattarada has since need a wheelchair in order to move around. 

 

In 2014, a court ordered the truck owner to pay Bt4 million in compensation to her family. 

 

However, according to Porntip, her lawyer – Pisit – persuaded her to sign papers assigning him to handle everything for her, because he said it would not be convenient for her to pick up monthly compensation payments herself. 

 

She agreed, but ended up getting just a little over Bt200,000.

 

In 2015, she lodged a complaint against the lawyer, but he successfully persuaded her to withdraw it by giving a false promise that he would give her Bt3 million. 

 

“We are sorry to hear that the victims have been taken advantage of. We will definitely help them,” Tawatchai said. 

 

The Justice Ministry, the Thai Bar, and the Lawyers Council of Thailand will pursue the case against Pisit with a view to helping the family reclaim their rightful compensation, he added. 

 

Pisit has a record of professional misbehaviour, having violated lawyer ethics and being slapped with a two-year ban during his career. 

 

Available records suggest he was declared insolvent in 2004, too.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/national/30319813

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-7-3

[ChrisY1]

Maybe some good news......but of course, this guy's another of the protected species....one can hope he get's canned!!

[seajae]

insolvent in 2004, has a record of professional misbehaviour yet has been allowed to keep his licence, again we see just how bad those in charge are by allowing this to continue. Are they actually going to make him reimburse the girl or will they just slap him on the wrist so he doesnt lose face. The lawyers council should be made to pay back all the stolen money as they are the ones that would not remove his licence prior to this happening, totally pathetic

[nev]

I hope more than his career is ruined he should be jailed for a very long time and forced to pay back every baht and interest.

Scum like this need to be made an example of.

[WhizBang]

At a minimum, he should be suspended immediately pending the outcome of an investigation.  Then he should be charged with fraud, embezzlement, etc. and his assets seized to give to the victim, then jailed, preferably for the rest of his pathetic life.

[hanuman2543]

 

“We are preparing to launch an investigation,” said the council’s vice president, acting Major Sombat Wongkamhaeng, who also chairs the Thai Bar’s committee on legal help for people. 

 

Be prepared for a long investigation and a disappointing result. I filed 2 complaints against 2 different lawyers with them. 2 similar cases (filing for divorce with the Civil Court instead of the Family Court) and 2 different rulings regarding compensation.  On top I had to bring my own translator and pay my own travel expenses. One case lasts 4 years and I wasn't awarded any compensation. He only lost his licence temporarily.  Really disappointing and next time I will do it the Thai way and send some people with a heavy "argument ". The cost for both cases exceeded easy 100,000 Baht. Their only function is to find excuses for the many mistakes and sometimes criminal behaviour of their clueless members.

Edited July 3, 2017 by hanuman2543

[starky]

Might remove him? Will launch an investigation? Sounds like typical doublespeak too me. Disbarr him immediately and seize assets sufficient to pay the money he stole. If he already has form for professional misconduct there's no need for suspension, automatic dismissal should be the least of his punishments. Won't happen but as these sorts of grubs get away with this shit everyday here and around and will continue to do so. Nothing truly fair or just about this world we live in. At best I hope the girl sees at least some of the compensation returned that this maggot stole.

Edited July 3, 2017 by starky

[wirat69]

11 hours ago, seajae said:

insolvent in 2004, has a record of professional misbehaviour yet has been allowed to keep his licence, again we see just how bad those in charge are by allowing this to continue.

As a former Secretary of a Law Society you should no comforted that this position is not too unusual, and insufficient to keep a man from earning his way in his chosen profession... know of one case where the guy was bankrupt 4 times in USA but still allowed to practise there!!

[Moti24]

"The Lawyers Council of Thailand said on Monday that the alleged offence by Pisit Sammalert was so serious that the council might remove him from its list of qualified lawyers."

 

 

Might!  Assuming the investigation will find him guilty, he MIGHT be removed.....  

 

This alleged scum of the earth lawyer should be made an example of, not a slap on the wrist, but all of the suggestions from posts above.

 

I sometimes think that this place has lost the plot altogether!  Thailand wants to be the business hub of Asia, and yet the standards are set so low that the only business it will attract is unwanted elsewhere.  I know 3 people with businesses here that are packing-up and moving, and several on retirement visas that are leaving when their current visa expires.  One guy told me that he feels like he's living on the Titanic; he knows it's going down, but doesn't know when.

 

I doubt they'll be any follow-up reporting on this case, so we'll just have to hope that common sense prevails; don't hold your breath on the last bit.

[colinneil]

As most people already know most lawyers ( not only in Thailand) are corrupt.

When you have a corrupt lawyer being investigated by his peers,the truth/justice will not prevail.

[AhFarangJa]

Q: Know how copper wire was invented?
A: Two lawyers were fighting over a penny.

 

Q: Why does the law society prohibit sex between lawyers and their clients?
A: To prevent clients from being billed twice for essentially the same service

.

Q: What can a goose do, a duck can't, and a lawyer should?
A: Stick his bill up his a**.

Edited July 4, 2017 by AhFarangJa

[worgeordie]

He needs to go to jail for a long time,but this been Thailand

suspended sentence and 2 weeks community service is   

the most we can expect,the Rat is going to make up all

kinds of excuses to wriggle out of any punishment.

regards worgeordie

[Bluespunk]

14 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

 

deleted

Edited July 4, 2017 by Bluespunk

[timendres]

27 minutes ago, AhFarangJa said:

Q: Know how copper wire was invented?
A: Two lawyers were fighting over a penny.

 

Q: Why does the law society prohibit sex between lawyers and their clients?
A: To prevent clients from being billed twice for essentially the same service

.

Q: What can a goose do, a duck can't, and a lawyer should?
A: Stick his bill up his a**.

 

Q: Why don't sharks eat lawyers?

A: Professional courtesy.

 

Q: How do you tell the difference between a dead skunk in the middle of the road and a dead lawyer in the middle of the road?

A: There are skid marks in front of the skunk.

 

[4MyEgo]

22 hours ago, WhizBang said:

At a minimum, he should be suspended immediately pending the outcome of an investigation.  Then he should be charged with fraud, embezzlement, etc. and his assets seized to give to the victim, then jailed, preferably for the rest of his pathetic life.

Your a bit harsh, but I have to agree with you, but can we skip the jail sentence and give him the death penalty because life in jail would mean he still gets to eat, sleep and breath

[Pib]

Sounds like this accused lawyer is going to need a good lawyer....but since it's Thailand he probably will not be able to find a good lawyer.

[bluesofa]

On the subject of Thai justice, I saw a letter today in the publication we can't mention. It went like this:

 

A group of Thai tourists was sightseeing in Laos. One of the tourists asked the tour guide what the huge building opposite was.

"The Department of the Navy", said the guide.

The tourist was bewildered.  "The Department of the Navy? But Laos doesn't have a navy.

The guide said, "In Thailand you have a Ministry of Justice, don't you?"

 

[colinneil]

7 minutes ago, bluesofa said:

On the subject of Thai justice, I saw a letter today in the publication we can't mention. It went like this:

 

A group of Thai tourists was sightseeing in Laos. One of the tourists asked the tour guide what the huge building opposite was.

"The Department of the Navy", said the guide.

The tourist was bewildered.  "The Department of the Navy? But Laos doesn't have a navy.

The guide said, "In Thailand you have a Ministry of Justice, don't you?"

 

Your comment is priceless.Well done.

[fruitman]

On 3-7-2017 at 4:05 PM, seajae said:

insolvent in 2004, has a record of professional misbehaviour yet has been allowed to keep his licence, again we see just how bad those in charge are by allowing this to continue. Are they actually going to make him reimburse the girl or will they just slap him on the wrist so he doesnt lose face. The lawyers council should be made to pay back all the stolen money as they are the ones that would not remove his licence prior to this happening, totally pathetic

Sometimes motocycle gangs like to intervene in cases like this, just to help the handicapped victim. I hope they also do that in Thailand, this lawyer deserves 300 bikers at his house.