Debayo Adedipe

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

The Disciplinary Committee of the General Legal Council found that the Respondent, attorney Debayo Adedipe, owed and breached a duty of care to the complainants (purchasers) in a property sale, finding an implied retainer despite his claim that he acted only for the vendor. The Committee found him guilty of inexcusable and deplorable negligence in breach of Canon IV(s): he failed to identify the two lots in the agreement for sale (rendering the description uncertain), failed to retain funds to pay stamp duty/transfer tax and the costs of subdivision, paid over all funds to the vendor, and gave incorrect advice about the complainants' right to terminate the conditional sale agreement. No dishonesty was found. He was ordered to make restitution of J$1,875,000 with 6% interest from 2 May 2009 and to pay costs of J$200,000.

Duties found breached:

• Honour professional undertakings

Aggravating factors:

• Complete ineptitude and total lack of competence in conducting the conveyancing transaction
• Deliberate disregard of Special Conditions 3 and 4 by paying all money to the vendor
• Loss caused to complainants given the vendor (Moses Leader) left the island with no known date of return
• Failure to repeat in writing any claim that he was not acting for the complainants, and no disclaimer in advice letter