South Australian Consolidated Acts South Australian Consolidated Acts77A—Investigation of allegation of overcharging
(1) Subject to
subsection (2), if a complaint of overcharging is made against a
legal practitioner, the Board must, unless the Board is of the opinion that
the complaint is frivolous or vexatious, investigate the complaint.
(2) The Board may
require a complainant to pay a reasonable fee, fixed by the Board, for
investigation of the complaint and decline to proceed with the investigation
unless the fee is paid.
(3) For the purposes
of an investigation the Board may, by notice in writing—
(a)
require the legal practitioner to make a detailed report to the Board, within
the time specified in the notice, on the work carried out for the complainant;
(b)
require the legal practitioner to produce to the Board, within the time
specified in the notice, documents relating to the work.
(4) A
legal practitioner must comply with a requirement under subsection (3).
Maximum penalty: $10 000 or imprisonment for 1 year.
(5) At the conclusion
of the investigation the Board—
(a) must
report to the complainant and the legal practitioner on the results of the
investigation; and
(b) may
recommend that the legal practitioner reduce a charge or refund an amount to
the claimant.