[Guido]

I would just add that if you are going to request various items of evidence such as video, calib/certs etc, why get a brief involved at that stage. It's common knowledge that every letter a solicitor writes on your behalf can cost in excess of £50 easily. As long as you're courteous and know a bit of the terminology, you can get most bits that you need to make a decision on your next course of action (I did).

In my case I wrote up to 7 letters to the Procurator Fiscal (my 'fau-pas' was north of the border) and made numerous phone calls before all evidence was released. That saved me a fortune and I was safe in the thought that by doing it myself I didn't miss anything cos I had a vested interest in the result unlike some solicitors who are just concerned with taking your money.

Request the info, get it, analyse it, and if you think you have a case then go to a brief and get them to give you a legal observation without spending a penny.

Only my tuppence worth being a tight Yorkshur g1t.!!!

On the above, the reason Co/Directors often get off lightly is that being in their position they are responsible for many people's livelihood's not just the one. Courts don't like to be seen to effect a large amount of people with one judgement and thus treat these individuals a little differently.

[Edited on 27-8-2004 by Guido]