RESULT: Fined | Disciplinary Committee decision delivered January 4, 2018. || RESULT: Guilty of Professional Misconduct | Disciplinary Committee decision delivered December 19, 2017.
FORMAL ORDER OF THE DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE
OF THE GENERAL LEGAL COUNCIL MADE ON
COMPLAINT NO: 68/2014
IN THE MATTER OF BLOSSOM VASSEL and MAURICE FRANKSON an Attorney-at-Law
AND
IN THE MATTER OF THE LEGAL PROFESSION ACT, 1971
PANEL:
Mr. Walter Scott Q.C. Chairman
Mrs. Ursula Khan
Mrs. Tana’ania Small Davis
DECISION ON SANCTION DELIVERED ON THE 4TH January, 2018
UPON THE APPLICATION dated 29th May, 2014 made under section 12(1) (a) of the Legal Profession Act and coming on for hearing before the Disciplinary Committee on the 29th January, 2016, 20th May, 2016, and the 19th day of December, 2017.
AND UPON the Complainant Blossom Vassel appearing by skype and having given evidence on oath
AND UPON the attorney-at-law Maurice Frankson appearing and having given evidence on oath.
AND UPON DUE CONSIDERATION of the sworn evidence of the Complainant Blossom Vassel and the Respondent Attorney Maurice Frankson
AND UPON the Committee having found the attorney-at-law Maurice Frankson guilty of professional misconduct on the 19th day of December, 2017,
AND UPON receiving Submissions in mitigation of sanction from the attorney-at-law Maurice Frankson
THE COMMITTEE FINDS THAT:
Attorney Maurice Frankson is guilty of professional misconduct in that he has breached Canon I(b), IV(r ) and IV (s) of the Legal Profession (Canons of Professional Ethics) Rules 1978.
PURSUANT TO THE FOREGOING FINDINGS AND UPON CONSIDERATION OF THE SUBMISSIONS IN MITIGATION OF SANCTION, THE COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY HEREBY ORDERED THAT: –
Pursuant to s 12 (5) (a) of the Legal Profession Act as amended the panel imposes sanction of:
- A fine of $677,000.00 to be paid to the Complainant in full satisfaction of the damage caused to the complainant. The sum is to be paid in full on or before 30th April, 2018.
- Costs of $250,000.00 to be paid by the attorney of which $50,000.00 is to be paid to the Complainant and $200,000.00 to be paid to the General Legal Council on or before 30th June, 2018.
Walter Scott Q.C.
Chairman of Panel