Jean Avril Acus

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

Sole practitioner who closed her practice in December 2004 failed to deliver her Accountant's Report for the year ending 28 February 2005 and failed to comply with an Adjudicator's direction of 21 April 2006. She admitted the allegations, citing financial hardship and health difficulties. The Tribunal found the allegations substantiated, regarded the continuing non-compliance as serious, and ordered indefinite suspension plus £261 costs. No dishonesty was alleged or found.

Duties found breached:

• Advise on alternatives, settlement and outcome
• Accounting records, reconciliation and reports

Aggravating factors:

• Continuing non-compliance despite Law Society making it easy to comply with gentle Adjudication terms
• Accountant's Report for year ending 28 February 2006 also remained outstanding

Mitigating factors:

• Personal and financial difficulties; only in receipt of Jobseekers Allowance and unable to afford accountant's fees
• Ongoing health problems
• Elderly mother had become unwell
• Accounts paperwork had been completed
• Client account now held a nil balance
• Admitted the allegations and apologised to the Tribunal and Applicant