Judge dismisses £2.4m confidentiality claim against solicitors

Court throws out £2.4m claim after finding no real threat to claimant’s safety or finances

The High Court has dismissed a former asylum seeker’s £2.4 million claim against his former solicitors, Blokh Solicitors, over allegations of a breach of confidentiality. The claimant, identified only as KKK, had accused the firm of releasing sensitive information to the Home Office, but the court found no evidence to support his claims.

Duncan Atkinson KC, sitting as a deputy High Court judge in the case KKK v Tsirilna (t/a Blokh Solicitors), granted the firm’s application for reverse summary judgment, ruling that KKK’s claim had no realistic chance of success. The case arose from KKK’s previous asylum claim, which the firm had successfully handled in 2014. A second retainer for a claim to the European Court of Human Rights, however, was unsuccessful, leading to a complaint about missed deadlines and alleged confidentiality breaches.

The legal ombudsman had already reviewed the matter, recommending a £50,000 payment for the missed deadline, but did not rule on the confidentiality issue. Undeterred, KKK pursued court proceedings, alleging that the firm’s actions had endangered his family by disclosing sensitive information. However, the High Court found that the claimant had failed to provide any evidence of harm or threat resulting from the release of his address to the Home Office.

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KKK did not attend the scheduled hearing on 17 March, and the judge proceeded with the case, finding no valid reason for his absence. Blokh Solicitors argued that any information shared with the Home Office was within the implied terms of the contract and that the claimant had waived confidentiality. The judge agreed, noting that the claimant had included his address in public records, making it unlikely that its disclosure could have led to any safety risks.

Atkinson KC concluded that the breach of confidentiality claim was “fanciful rather than realistic,” stating that there was no evidence of a real threat to KKK or his family. As a result, the claim was dismissed, and the judge lifted the claimant’s anonymity unless an appeal is filed. This decision enables Blokh Solicitors to address any potential complaints with the Solicitors Regulation Authority.