Terence Robert PURYER

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

Terence Robert Puryer, a former solicitor acting in a private capacity in Supreme Court proceedings, faced three charges of misleading the court and breaching his duty of candour. Charge 1 was dismissed as the Tribunal was not persuaded he deliberately caused the court's misapprehension about notice. Charge 2 was upheld: the Tribunal found he deliberately misled Daubney J by failing to disclose that the co-tenant had paid 40% of rent/outgoings, contrary to his sworn affidavit. Charge 3 (failure of frankness and candour) followed from that finding. Both proven charges were categorised as professional misconduct. Given the deliberate deception of the court, his conduct advancing his own interests, his lack of understanding of his obligations, and prior disciplinary history, the Tribunal found him not fit to remain on the roll and ordered his name removed, plus costs to be assessed.

Duties found breached:

• No baseless or threatened misconduct report

Aggravating factors:

• The misleading of the court was deliberate
• Conduct involved his own personal interests as a party
• Lack of proper understanding of his obligations of candour as a lawyer and citizen
• Prior disciplinary history: six charges of professional misconduct (2001) and four charges (2002)
• His conduct in the disciplinary proceedings, including a late post-hearing attack on the discipline application, showed a want of appreciation of his obligations