George Anthony Levy

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

Lead decision [2014] JMCA App 27: Arlean Beckford applied for a stay of execution of a Disciplinary Committee judgment (1 May 2014) which had found her guilty of professional misconduct for collecting deposit/closing costs (~$2m) in a land sale that was never completed, failing to keep the client informed and to account. The Committee suspended her 2 years and ordered $125,000 costs. Phillips JA refused the stay, finding no real prospect of success on her grounds (improper service of notice, apparent bias of panel, prejudice to pending criminal proceedings), and made no order as to costs while recommending a speedy appeal. No dishonesty was found. The appended decision (Complaint 211/2017) found attorney G. Anthony Levy guilty of misconduct (breach of Canon I(b)) for failing as executor/attorney to account to a beneficiary of an estate; sanction in that matter was deferred for a mitigation hearing and no dishonesty was found.

Duties found breached:

• Honesty
• Uphold public trust in the profession
• Act only on proper, lawful instructions
• Prompt accounting and return of money

Mitigating factors:

• Single judge found applicant had not acted unreasonably in pursuing the stay application (basis for no order as to costs)