GEOFFREY PAUL DUTTON

Findings — machine-extracted (anthropic-batch:claude-opus-4-8); verify against the decision

The Full Bench of the Supreme Court of WA acted on a SAT report finding Geoffrey Paul Dutton guilty of extensive professional misconduct across at least 13 client matters between 2007 and 2012, including dishonestly misusing trust funds for his own benefit on over 90 occasions, failing to deposit trust money in a general trust account, failing to account to clients, breaching costs disclosure obligations, failing to maintain proper books of account, and failing to progress client matters. The Court expressly found the practitioner acted dishonestly and was not a fit and proper person to practise law. His name was ordered removed from the Roll, with no order as to costs as he consented and did not oppose.

Duties found breached:

• No taking unfair advantage
• Costs and fee transparency to client
• No improper use of client money
• Prompt accounting and return of money
• Accounting records, reconciliation and reports
• Competence
• Report serious misconduct of others

Aggravating factors:

• Numerous instances of professional misconduct over about 5 years
• Dishonest misuse of trust monies affecting many clients
• Serious consequences for clients including judgments entered against them
• Persistent failure to respond to clients and to progress matters

Mitigating factors:

• Practitioner agreed facts and consented to findings via mediation/settlement
• Did not oppose the application and consented to being struck off