CAROL PENN

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

The Legal Profession Complaints Committee brought proceedings against practitioner Carol Penn. On ground 2, the Tribunal found she engaged in professional misconduct by charging $69,028.89 for probate and estate administration work when a reasonable charge, per expert costs assessor Mr Forbes, was $28,959.80. Even on the practitioner's own conceded figure of $51,363.28 there was overcharging of 25.6%. The Committee sought no penalty and no costs on ground 2 because the penalty for grounds 1 and 3 was sufficient and the practitioner had ceased practice and was in dire financial circumstances. No dishonesty finding was made; the finding was excessive charging.

Duties found breached:

• No improper solicitation or touting

Mitigating factors:

• Practitioner has ceased to practise
• Practitioner is in very dire financial circumstances