'Lying' Fiscal Ruined My Life

Mar 9 2008 By Steve Dinneen

Exclusive Oap's £150k Claim

A TOP fiscal has been accused of costing a client s150,000 by misleading him.

Adrian Fraser - who prosecuted shamed peer Mike Watson - is under investigation over his handling of the ill-health claim.

He was hired as a solicitor by Alexander Davidson in 1995 to represent his compensation battle with ex-employer Scottish Power.

Alexander, 72, of Falkirk, had been told by a court-appointed advocate he could received £150,000 after exposure to hazardous substances.

But he claims Fraser did not file his Legal Aid application in time and "deliberately misled" him to cover his tracks. He is also accused of losing or binning vital files.

Alexander's case eventually became timebarred and he had to settle for just s3000.

He said: "Fraser has torn my life apart."

The LawSociety of Scotland ruled his actions "could amount to professional misconduct" and referred the case to the Scottish Solicitors' Discipline Tribunal but a report has still not been filed. They also ordered Fraser to pay Alexander s1000.

Philip Yelland, Law Society of Scotland director of regulation, said: "Complaints against Adrian Fraser are being investigated."

Fraser became a fiscal in Edinburgh in 2004. His cases include that of former Labour MSP Watson, who was jailed in 2005 for fire-raising.

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