RESULT: Restitution and Repayment Ordered | Disciplinary Committee decision delivered April 16, 2011.
FORMAL ORDER OF THE DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE
OF THE GENERAL LEGAL COUNCIL MADE ON COMPLAINT
NO. 96 of 2009
IN THE MATTER OF EGBERT TAIT vs J. VERNON RICKETTS
AND
IN THE MATTER OF THE LEGAL PROFESSION ACT 1971
PANEL:
MR STEPHEN SHELTON
MRS GLORIA LANGRIN
MISS LILIETH DEACON
DECISION DELIVERED ON THE 16TH APRIL, 2011
UPON THE APPLICATION dated 4th June, 2009 made under section 12(1)(a) of the Legal Profession Act coming on for hearing before the Disciplinary Committee on the 16th April, 2011.
AND UPON the complainants Egbert & Erica Tait having given evidence on oath
AND UPON the attorney J. Vernon Ricketts not appearing
AND UPON DUE CONSIDERATION of the evidence of Egbert & Erica Tait
THE COMMITTEE FINDS: the attorney is guilty of professional misconduct in that in the matter the attorney Mr. J. Vernon Ricketts took the Complainant’s title Volume 1139 Folio 37 to add his wife’s name. The sum of $20,000.00 was paid.
Mr. Vernon Ricketts has since been struck off and has not returned the Complainant’s title or money. The Complainants will be forced to make a loss title application which will cost him approximately $150,000.00. The sum of $20,000.000 being the retainer should also be refunded.
PURSUANT TO THE FOREGOING FINDINGS THE COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY HEREBY ORDERED THAT:-
Pursuant to s 12(4) of the Legal Profession Act:
- By way of Restitution the attorney-at-law J. Vernon Ricketts is to pay to the complainant, Egbert Tait the sum of $170,000.00
- The attorney J. Vernon Ricketts is to pay costs to the complainant the sum of $20,000.00
Dated 2nd June, 2011
MR STEPHEN SHELTON
CHAIRMAN OF PANEL