Dexter Charles Anthony Wadsworth: Complaint No. 139 of 2008 – Formal Order

RESULT: Struck off | Disciplinary Committee decision delivered January 18, 2022. || Guilty of Professional Misconduct | Disciplinary Committee decision delivered November 24, 2021.

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FORMAL ORDER OF THE DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE
OF THE GENERAL LEGAL COUNCIL MADE ON

COMPLAINT NO: 139/2008

IN THE MATTER OF LLOYD BARNETT O.J. and DEXTER WADSWORTH an Attorney-at-­Law

AND

IN THE MATTER OF THE LEGAL PROFESSION ACT, 1971

PANEL:
Mrs. Pamela Benka-Coker, Q.C.
Mr. Charles Piper
Mrs. Ursula Khan

DECISION DELIVERED ON THE 18th JANUARY 2022

UPON THE APPLICATION made under section 12 (1) (a) of the Legal profession Act and dated the 15th December, 2008 along with supporting Affidavit sworn to on the 15th December and coming on for hearing before the Disciplinary Committee on March 21, 2009, May 23, 2009, June 27, 2009, July 11,2009, November 21, 2009, March 20, 2010, May 8, 2010, July 3, 2010, November 20, 2010, May 14, 2011, October 8, 2011, and November 24, 2021

AND UPON the Complainant, Dr. Lloyd Barnett, O.J. (hereinafter called the “Complainant”) appearing with counsel Mr. Donald Scharschmidt, Q.C. and having given evidence on oath

AND UPON the Respondent Attorney (hereinafter called the “Attorney”) appearing first with counsel Mr. Howard Hamilton, Q.C. and having given partial evidence on oath which was never completed and thereafter represented by counsel Mr. Paul Beswick

AND UPON DUE CONSIDERATION of the sworn evidence of both the Complainant and the Attorney coupled with the documentary evidence

AND UPON the Committee finding the Attorney, Dexter Wadsworth, guilty of professional misconduct on the 24th November 2021

AND UPON the Attorney having been given the opportunity to make submissions in mitigation of sanction on the 18th January 2022 but not appearing nor sending any written affidavit or submiss ions in mitigation.

THE COMMITTEE FINDS THAT:

  1. The Attorney Dexter Charles  Wadsworth was admitted to the New York Bar and licensed to practise law in the State of New York U.S.A. on the 22nd August 1988.
  2. The Attorney, relying on the above qualification applied to the General Legal Council for and was granted a Qualifying Certificate and a Certificate of Qualification for Enrolment and thereby obtained his enrolment as an Attorney-at­ law in Jamaica.
  3. On May 1st 2008 the Attorney resigned from the practice of law in the State of New York.
  4. This resignation was affected as a consequence of professional disciplinary proceedings having been instituted against the Attorney in New York.
  5. In his affidavit of resignation the Attorney voluntarily admitted he converted large amounts of clients’ funds, and aided and abetted a fraudulent financial scheme, did not maintain proper clients’ accounts or account for clients’ money and failed to return legal fees in disregard of a court order.
  6. The said affidavit details the facts which support the Attorney’s admissions.
  7. These admissions by the Attorney disclose egregious professional misconduct on his part.
  8. The Attorney was struck from the roll of Attorneys-at-Law entitled to practise in the State of New York on May 1st 1988.

PURSUANT TO THE FOREGOING FINDINGS THE COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY HEREBY ORDERED THAT:

Pursuant to Section 12 (4) of the Legal Profession Act:

  1. The Attorney, Dexter Wadsworth, is struck from the Roll of Attorneys-at-law entitled to practice in the several Courts of the Island of Jamaica.
  2. The Attorney, Dexter Wadsworth, is ordered to pay costs of $500,000.00 to the General Legal Council forthwith.

Dated 18th January 2022

Mrs. Pamela Benka-Coker, Q.C.
CHAIRMAN OF PANEL


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