Franklyn S. Beckford

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

The attorney Franklin Beckford failed to fulfil six written undertakings he had given to the Panel on 13 March 1999 (including sending a copy of the Transmission, paying estate duty and sending the receipt, sending the certified Agreement for Sale and Transfer, forwarding the signed Transmission, forwarding registration fees, and forwarding a certified copy of the Letters of Administration). He did not respond to the complainant's attorney's letters and did not attend the hearing. The Panel found him guilty of misconduct in a professional respect in breach of Canon VI(c) and on 17 April 1999 suspended him for 3 months, ordered that his name be struck off if undertakings were not met within that period, and awarded $2,000 costs. On 15 September 1999, following his rehearing application and a further affidavit, the suspension order was withdrawn and the substantive complaint was ordered to be heard and determined.

Duties found breached:

• Good faith and courtesy to colleagues

Aggravating factors:

• Failure to reply to two letters from the complainant's attorney
• Non-attendance at the hearing
• Failed to fulfil all of his written undertakings