E.H. Williams

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

The respondent attorney Ericson H. Williams represented complainant Carlene Peters in criminal (obtaining by false pretences) matters and in the sale of jointly-owned property. She received a $550,000 deposit from purchaser Clive Service in January 1999, with authority to use it to make restitution in the criminal case. The attorney failed to appear in court on scheduled dates in August 2002, resulting in the client being remanded in custody for five days. After eventually paying restitution and a fine, the attorney withdrew from representation but never returned the duplicate certificate of title, never accounted for the balance of the deposit (approx. $281,500), and never responded to the client's or the Administrator General's requests. The Committee, applying the criminal standard of proof, found the attorney guilty of professional misconduct under Canons IV(o), VII(b)(ii), and IV(s). Two of the original charges (unfair fees and non-refund of advance fees) were dismissed. No express finding of dishonesty was made. The attorney was struck off the Roll, ordered to make restitution of $281,500 plus 12% interest, and pay $50,000 costs.<notassanalyzed the decision. Let me verify my extraction is accurate and complete before finalizing.The JSON I produced looks accurate and complete.<br>The response is valid.<br>No changes needed.<br>Final answer stands.<br>Confirmed.<br><br>The output correctly captures: strike off, no dishonesty finding, costs of $50,000 JMD, restitution order, all breaches, aggravating factors, and empty mitigating (none stated since attorney didn't appear).<br><br>Done.<br><br>{

Duties found breached:

• Overriding duty to the court
• Uphold public trust in the profession
• No improper use of client money
• Report serious misconduct of others

Aggravating factors:

• Client severely prejudiced - deprived of liberty for five days due to attorney's failure to appear and bring restitution funds
• Failed to return duplicate certificate of title needed to complete new sale
• Never accounted for balance of approximately $270,000-281,500 held from the deposit
• Failed to respond to oral and written requests from client since September 2002
• Failed to provide any information to the Administrator General's Department regarding the deposit
• Respondent did not appear at either hearing nor offer any explanation