Jennifer Messado

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

The Disciplinary Committee of the General Legal Council found Mrs. Jennifer Messado guilty of professional misconduct arising from her breach of a professional undertaking concerning many Certificates of Title and sums of $19,000,000.00, $6,484,000.00, and US$26,876.00. The panel found her conduct reckless and egregious but expressly NOT rooted in dishonesty or deceit—rather in negligence/recklessness. As an attorney admitted since 1974 with 44 years' experience, she ought to have appreciated the significance of giving an undertaking she was not in a position to fulfill. The panel ordered her name struck off the Roll of Attorneys and ordered costs of $400,000.00 ($250,000.00 to the Complainant; $150,000.00 to the General Legal Council).

Duties found breached:

• No improper communication with the court
• No conflict between current clients

Aggravating factors:

• Breach concerned many Certificates of Title and large sums of money
• No evidence she made any attempt to respond to the Complainant
• Mature practitioner of 44 years' experience who ought to have appreciated the significance of the undertaking

Mitigating factors:

• No prior finding of professional misconduct in a long career
• Poor health
• Conduct was not deceitful but negligent/reckless