Jade Heloise Dupont

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

Solicitor Jade Heloise Dupont was found guilty of professional misconduct on five averments arising from acting on instructions from TM to be appointed Executor Qua Creditor of JO's estate based on a fake promissory note and fake death certificate. She failed to make adequate investigations (despite multiple red flags), failed to investigate the validity of the death certificate, advised appointment on a prescribed debt without constituting it, made reckless and misleading averments in the petition (breaching integrity), and acted in a conflict of interest in transferring property to a company owned by TM without a professional valuation and at undervalue. Her conduct facilitated a fraud by TM, which was later reduced by the Court of Session. The Complainers accepted there was no dishonesty on her part. The Tribunal censured her, fined her £1,000, restricted her practising certificate to qualified-assistant status under supervision for at least two years, and awarded expenses.

Duties found breached:

• Act only on proper, lawful instructions
• Handle inadvertently received material
• No conflict between current clients
• Not mislead the court
• Proper basis for allegations

Aggravating factors:

• Misconduct occurred over a period of approximately 14 months
• Multiple failings allowed TM to perpetrate a fraud
• Breach of integrity (Rule B1.2)
• Conduct put the public at risk and likely to damage reputation of profession
• Conduct at the more serious end of the scale

Mitigating factors:

• No previous findings of misconduct or unsatisfactory professional conduct
• More than 20 years in practice without incident
• Insight and remorse demonstrated
• Full cooperation with proceedings including Joint Minute agreeing all facts
• Favourable testimonial
• Intention to pay compensation to the deceased's widow