Noel S. Williams

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

Complainants Festus and Elita Harris retained attorney Noel Williams in 1986 to effect transfer of a portion of land they purchased at Fairy Hill, Portland. They paid the full purchase price ($55,500.00) and costs of transfer ($2,198.75), plus $1,000.00 to cover a sum the vendor owed Williams. Over many years Williams failed to obtain title, gave repeated excuses, provided no accounting and did not complete the transaction. Williams did not appear. Applying the criminal standard of proof, the Committee found the case proved beyond reasonable doubt and found breaches of Canons IV(f), IV(r) and VII(b)(ii), constituting professional misconduct under s.12(1). No express finding of dishonesty. Ordered restitution, a $10,000 fine to the GLC and $10,000 costs to the complainants.

Duties found breached:

• Non-discriminatory acceptance and cab-rank
• No conflict between current clients
• No improper use of client money

Aggravating factors:

• Respondent failed to attend, was unrepresented and provided no response despite proper service on all occasions
• Clients repeatedly attended his office over several years without result and were told untruths