John Anthony Thompson

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

The Complainant paid the Respondent attorney US$770.00 in August 2001 to cancel an agreement for sale of Lot 24 (held by her mother and siblings) so she could purchase it, in exchange for buying Lot 12 for her family. The Respondent never cancelled the agreement, did not refund the money, and did not inform the Complainant that her intentions could not be carried out until September 2020, some 19 years later, when he completed the transfer of Lot 24 and told her she needed to pay additional fees. The Panel found him guilty of professional misconduct for failure to provide information, failure to act with due expedition, and inexcusable/deplorable negligence. The no-case submission on the professional undertaking charge was upheld (that charge dismissed), and allegations concerning Lot 12 were dismissed as not proven beyond reasonable doubt. The Panel did not consider the existence of an attorney-client retainer determinative. Sanction was deferred pending a mitigation hearing.

Duties found breached:

• Complaints procedure and handling
• Full disclosure on ex parte applications
• No taking unfair advantage
• Uphold public trust in the profession