Trevor Ruddock

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

Trevor Ruddock, an attorney with carriage of sale of a property at 117 Great Georges Street, received $10,000,000 deposit but failed to complete the sale, stamp the agreement, account to the beneficiary/client, or hand over funds. The Disciplinary Committee found beyond reasonable doubt that he dishonestly misappropriated $6,880,159 and committed professional misconduct, breaching Canons IV(r), VII(b)(ii) and I(b). He was struck off the Roll, ordered to make restitution of $6,880,159 plus 12% interest, pay 12% interest on the $2,500,000 deposit, and pay $100,000 costs. He was found not guilty of inexcusable/deplorable negligence.

Duties found breached:

• Uphold public trust in the profession
• No conflict between current clients
• No improper use of client money
• No baseless or threatened misconduct report

Aggravating factors:

• Dishonest misappropriation of $6,880,159.00 of client funds converted to his own use
• Position of trust/fiduciary relationship breached
• Failure to account or hand over funds despite client instructions
• Prolonged delay (sale agreement signed 2002, unresolved by 2008)
• No evidence produced that funds were still held in trust

Mitigating factors:

• Attorney paid over $2,500,000.00 to the complainant's new attorneys in April 2008
• Did pursue application to bring land under Registration of Titles Act and made some correspondence with the National Land Agency
• Did pay land taxes on the property