Steven George Powell

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

In [2022] JMCA Misc 1 the Court of Appeal of Jamaica heard Mrs Minett Lawrence's appeal against the General Legal Council Disciplinary Committee's findings of professional misconduct and its order striking her off the roll. The Committee had found she acted dishonestly and breached canons I(b), IV(k), IV(r), IV(s) and VII(b)(ii) after she introduced a young client to an overseas loan/investment scheme, acted for both lender and borrower, and failed to account for US$498,000. The GLC conceded, and the Court agreed, that the express finding of dishonesty was not supported to the criminal standard and was set aside, along with the breaches of canons IV(r) and VII(b)(ii) (failure to account). However, the Court affirmed the findings of conflict of interest (IV(k)), inexcusable and deplorable negligence (IV(s)) and breach of honour/dignity (I(b)). The Court held that even absent dishonesty, the grossly negligent and dishonourable conduct (including a misleading letter and a dishonoured cheque) justified striking off. It reduced the restitution from US$498,000 to US$47,000 with 2% compound interest, affirmed the J$750,000 costs order, and upheld the strike-off.

Duties found breached:

• No conflict between current clients
• Overriding duty to the court
• Uphold public trust in the profession

Aggravating factors:

• Seriousness and egregious nature of the negligence by an experienced commercial lawyer
• Serious harm and financial loss to a 22-year-old client
• Lack of candour shown in the 12 September 2008 letter falsely asserting funds had been received and transmitted
• Causing client funds to be deposited to husband's non-trust account and issuing a dishonoured US$15,000 cheque
• Many questions left unanswered regarding the whereabouts of the funds

Mitigating factors:

• Approximately 28 years in practice with an unblemished disciplinary record
• Impressive curriculum vitae and evidence of good character

⚠ figures not found verbatim in the source were dropped: ["review_dishonesty_finding_cue_present"]