JANET WALTON

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

The Full Bench of the Supreme Court of Western Australia acted on a report from the State Administrative Tribunal, which found the practitioner guilty of six complaints of unsatisfactory/unprofessional conduct, including insinuating herself into litigation she was not party to, disclosing confidential client information without consent, failing to render a bill of costs, writing an insulting letter to the Chief Judge of the District Court, and attempting to claim over $200,000 from a former client. The Court overruled the practitioner's conditional appearance challenging the applicant's standing, found her not a fit and proper person, and ordered she be struck off the Roll, pay compensation ($1,856.80 and $1,189) and pay costs. No express finding of dishonesty was made.

Duties found breached:

• Avoid wasting the court's time
• No improper communication with the court
• Complaints procedure and handling
• Costs and fee transparency to client
• No acting against a former client
• No improper use of client money

Aggravating factors:

• Course of conduct described as utterly deplorable and reprehensible over a considerable period
• Disclosure of confidential client information without consent to the opposing party
• Loss of judgment and balance; public requires protection from her

Mitigating factors:

• No suggestion of dishonesty or failure to account to the client in relation to VR 22