Lorraine Louise Ramson

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

Complainant retained Attorney Lorraine Ramson in July 2011 in relation to purchase of unregistered land in Lawrence Tavern, St. Andrew, and to bring the land under the Registration of Titles Act so she could obtain NHT mortgage financing. The Attorney commenced the registration application around August 2011 but had not completed it over eight years later. The vendor died intestate in 2017 and his relatives now refuse to honour the sale. The panel preferred the Complainant's account that the Attorney acted for both parties, but held that even if not retained by the Complainant, she could still complain under s.12(1) LPA. The panel found the Attorney's delay inordinate and inexcusable and that she failed to provide progress information, finding her guilty of professional misconduct in breach of Canon IV(r), proven beyond reasonable doubt. No dishonesty was alleged or found. The document contains findings of guilt only; no sanction or costs order is stated.

Duties found breached:

• No conflict between current clients

Aggravating factors:

• Inordinate and inexcusable delay of over seven years in completing the application to bring the land under the Registration of Titles Act
• Failure over the years to respond to the Complainant's enquiries about progress
• Client adversely affected: vendor died intestate in 2017 and his relatives now refuse to honour the sale agreement
• Attorney did not repay monies received from the Complainant
• Attorney repeatedly absent from hearings; matter heard in her absence under Rule 8