Robert P.D. Baugh

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

Attorney Robert Baugh had carriage of sale for the Clarkes' sale of premises (Vol 970 Folio 145) to the Lindsays. He received the signed Agreement, the Title, and a manager's cheque of $128,000 for costs, plus collected monthly mortgage payments. Over nearly three years he failed to complete the transaction, did not lodge mortgage payments, never delivered the Title to the National Housing Trust, and never submitted the Agreement for stamping. He produced a false Stamp Office receipt; the Deputy Stamp Commissioner confirmed it did not emanate from her office and no payment record existed. The Panel found he deliberately misrepresented to his clients that he had completed steps and produced a false document. He was found guilty of professional misconduct and ordered struck off the roll under s.12(4).

Duties found breached:

• No taking unfair advantage
• Uphold public trust in the profession
• Keep client informed and respond promptly
• Handle inadvertently received material
• Safeguard documents and limit liens

Aggravating factors:

• Deliberate misrepresentation to clients
• Production of a false/forged document
• Conduct sustained over nearly three years
• Failure to attend hearings and lack of meaningful participation
• Conduct that brings the profession into disrepute