Deacon's wife sues ex-partners of firm

EX-PARTNERS of Deacon Goldrein Green (DGG), the collapsed Liverpool legal aid firm now in liquidation, are being sued for negligence by the wife of former partner David Deacon.

The action is likely to become a claim on the Solicitors Indemnity Fund (SIF).

The writ, issued in Liverpool's District Registry, names nine individual partners, including Deacon himself, who is currently fighting a bankruptcy order successfully brought in April by a creditor, the bank NWS Trust.

The writ names Jennifer Deacon as plaintiff. The claim is against the partnership as it stood in 1989 and alleges its "negligent failure to give the plaintiff any or any adequate advice in relation to a charge dated 26 May 1989 between the plaintiff and the first defendant (Deacon), the Royal Bank of Scotland (the firm's bank) whereby the freehold property 89 Green Lane, Liverpool was charged".

The property is David Deacon's address.

The plaintiff claims damages, interest and costs. It is thought the action will become a claim on the SIF.

Liverpool firm Thelwell Fagin is acting for Mrs Deacon.

NWS Trust is also appealing to the High Court in an attempt to reverse a decision by a district judge not to allow its attempt to strike out an action by David Deacon.

Deacon had issued a writ against NWS for malicious presentation of a bankruptcy order after an earlier attempt to bankrupt him, which was thrown out in March.