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6. I found myself at the Royal Courts of Justice acting
for a builder in a case where the client was retaining monies on the justification
that the bungalow was not properly constructed because the ceilings were bowing.
The Specification for the ceiling timbers was three inch by two inch softwood
and this had been installed. Our case was that the client had put boxes in the
roof which had caused the ceiling to bow. We brought as a witness one of the
removal men who had put the boxes in the roof. In cross examination the barrister
for the plaintiff was questioning our witness about his statement that the boxes
each weighed about half a hundred weight. How was he qualified to tell the weight
of a box? Well, I am an amateur weight lifter sir!. Case won.
7. I had sold various properties for a client including a block of let cottages.About a year later the client phones up and asks if I will help him in a valuation matter. About a year before I sold the block of let cottages, they were valued by surveyors for estate duty purposes and their valuation was much higher than the price for which I had sold them. He wanted me to act as valuer in his action in negligence against the other surveyors. Reluctantly I had to agree and a conference took place with his advocate at Lincolns Inn. During the conference is was disclosed that the defendant surveyors had retained Mr Weatherman of Connells, to act on their behalf. At the conclusion of the meeting, I said that I did not know Mr Weatherman, but I was sure that he was a reasonable man, why didn't I go and see Mr Weatherman to try and agree the matter now. Oh no Mr Rogers, we don't want you to do that at this early stage - lesson learnt.