Anthony Alexander Armstrong

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

Complaint by Michael Adams against attorney Anthony Armstrong alleging the attorney sold three of the complainant's Jamaican properties without authorisation while the complainant was imprisoned in the USA, and breaches of Canons III(f), I(b) and III(k). The Panel found the complainant and his witness not credible, while a handwriting expert (Beverley East) credibly opined the signatures on the sale transfers were the complainant's authentic signatures, meaning the complainant had authorised the sales. The Panel therefore was not satisfied beyond reasonable doubt of fraud/criminal conduct and dismissed those grounds. However, the attorney admitted witnessing the signatures on the transfers without the signatories being physically present, which the Panel found to be reckless and behaviour tending to discredit the profession, constituting professional misconduct under Canon I(b). Sanction was deferred to allow the attorney to address the Panel. No express finding of dishonesty was made.

Duties found breached:

• Uphold public trust in the profession

Aggravating factors:

• Witnessing legal documents without the signatory present was described as reckless and conveyed a false impression to the public/authorities
• Attorney was an evasive witness and gave evidence that made no sense

Mitigating factors:

• The Complainant was found to have actually authorised the sales by signing the transfers (per handwriting expert), so the consequences of the reckless witnessing were less grave than they could have been
• Long delay (15 years) and absence of corroborating documentary evidence