A letter of claim has been sent by the Law Society to the owner of a website that claims to name and shame solicitors for poor performance. The letter states that Rick Kordowski must shut down his Solicitors from Hell website or face action for defamation, harassment and breach of the Data Protection Act.

The letter points out that Mr Kordowski has yet to pay more than £150,000 in damages already awarded against him for abuses. However, he told the Times that he would not close the website, which allows people to post anonymous complaints about individual solicitors and law firms.

A spokeswoman for the Society told the Law Society Gazette: "Not all solicitors defamed on the website can afford the time and trouble to bring a case themselves, and the Law Society is taking every possible step to protect our members and the public interest."

Mr Justice Henrique urged the Law Society to take action in a previous case taken against Mr Kordowski, noting that "conscientious and highly reputable" solicitors were being defamed on the website.