Richard D. Bonner

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

Attorney Richard Bonner was retained in 2009 by the Complainant's parents to administer the estate of Ida Brooks and obtain a splinter title, and was paid $130,000 in fees plus $55,000 for stamp duty. He never obtained the grant of administration or splinter title, and retained the clients' original documents. Both parents died without the matter being completed. The Committee found him guilty of professional misconduct for breaching Canons IV(r) and (s). No express finding of dishonesty was made. He was ordered to return documents, reimburse $130,000 in fees, pay a $200,000 fine, and pay $100,000 in costs.

Duties found breached:

• Overriding duty to the court
• No conflict between current clients
• Report serious misconduct of others

Aggravating factors:

• 10 years passed without obtaining grant of administration or splinter title
• Both clients (parents) died without obtaining registered title
• Failed to return original documents entrusted to him
• Had opportunity since August 2018 to locate file but did not