J. Vernon (Jonathan) Ricketts

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

The Attorney was engaged in 1999 to handle the sale of three properties. He failed to complete a sale, transferred a parcel of land contrary to instructions without rectifying a boundary encroachment, misled the client about the deposit being paid, failed to collect rent, acted for both vendor and purchasers without consent, and failed to hand over the file. The Panel found beyond reasonable doubt breaches of Canons IV(r) and IV(s). It ordered restitution of J$663,500 (rent, airfare, telephone, Canadian legal fees), costs of J$100,000, and a conditional 6-month suspension avoidable by compliance with conditions (or payment of a J$450,000 fine toward statutory duties/penalties). No express finding of dishonesty was made.

Duties found breached:

• Overriding duty to the court
• No conflict between current clients

Aggravating factors:

• Delay in excess of 5 years in dealing with the client's business
• Failure to respond to client's enquiries even after the complaint was laid
• Failure to heed instructions to hand over the file to the new attorney
• Undisclosed conflict of interest in acting for both vendor and purchasers without consent
• Failure to attend or participate in the proceedings

⚠ figures not found verbatim in the source were dropped: ["unverified_suspension_months=6"]