Dean George FARNHAM

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

The respondent, a sole-practitioner solicitor who was also a director of the Thirsty Camel Group, gave an undertaking on his solicitor's letterhead to pay the balance ($10,090.37) of another solicitor's bill in relation to the purchase of the Commonwealth Hotel. Although he did not intend a personal undertaking, that was its effect. He breached the undertaking and it was not paid; he later entered bankruptcy. He admitted professional misconduct. The Tribunal found no dishonesty and imposed a public reprimand, a $3,000 penalty payable within six months, and made no order as to costs.

Duties found breached:

• No baseless or threatened misconduct report
• Honour professional undertakings

Aggravating factors:

• Undertaking facilitated a property transaction benefiting a company of which he was a director
• Serious breach of standard of conduct expected of a solicitor

Mitigating factors:

• No element of dishonesty
• Relatively modest amount of money involved
• Poor health at the relevant time
• Cooperation with the applicant
• Remorse
• No prior disciplinary history