W. Anthony Pearson

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

The Complainant, though never a client of the Respondent, was found to be an aggrieved person. After a Consent Order granting specific performance of a land sale, the Complainant paid the balance purchase price in December 1999, but title to the Property was never transferred. The Respondent, who had carriage of sale and was executor of the deceased proprietor's estate, failed to take necessary steps (including probating the will and delivering a registrable transfer) and parted with the title by giving it to Mr Drake without a registrable transfer, failing to account for it. The Panel found this constituted inexcusable and deplorable negligence in breach of Canon IV(s) and Canon I(b), and found him guilty of professional misconduct. Sanction was deferred to allow a mitigation hearing.

Duties found breached:

• Overriding duty to the court
• Uphold public trust in the profession

Aggravating factors:

• Respondent is a senior attorney who should have known the steps required
• Failed to respond to repeated requests from the Complainant's attorney
• Failed to account for the duplicate certificate of title
• No explanation for lack of action to comply with the Consent Order between 1999 and 2006