Tanya Latoya Walters Powell

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

The Respondent attorney Tanya Walters-Powell was found guilty of professional misconduct for breaching Canons IV(r), VII(b)(ii) and I(b) after both she and the Complainant became victims of a cybercrime/online fraud involving client funds. The tribunal expressly found NO dishonesty, but held she failed to be sufficiently diligent in protecting against cybercrime and was not prompt in attempting to retrieve the funds. As a fiduciary, she was fixed with responsibility for the Complainant's total loss. The panel rejected her plea for a mere reprimand. It ordered restitution of $9,307,982.77 with 3% interest from 24 July 2018, plus costs of $250,000 ($150,000 to Complainant, $100,000 to the GLC), payable within 6 months. Two attorneys gave favourable character evidence and the Respondent expressed remorse and had offered 50% of sale proceeds.

Duties found breached:

• Good faith and courtesy to colleagues
• Uphold public trust in the profession

Aggravating factors:

• Failure to be as diligent as required in protecting against cybercrime
• Not proactive or prompt in retrieving funds or having the scam investigated
• Complainant out of use of his funds for about three and a half years

Mitigating factors:

• Expression of remorse for the Complainant's loss
• Offered the Complainant 50% of the sale proceeds (offer rejected)
• Efforts to raise funds to repay, including applying to two banks for loan financing
• Limited personal financial means
• Favourable character evidence from two attorneys (Christopher Townsend and Georgia Hamilton)
• Respondent was herself a victim of an online fraudster/cybercrime
• No finding of dishonesty