Shaun A. Reynolds

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

The attorney was retained to act in the 1993 purchase of land at Cousin's Cove, Hanover, and acted for both vendor and purchaser. The complainant paid the full purchase price but never received registered title, and the attorney later assured him he could sell to new buyers (the Browns) despite the absence of title. The sale could not be completed, causing serious prejudice. The Disciplinary Committee, applying the criminal standard of proof, found the attorney guilty of professional misconduct for failing to act with due expedition and for inexcusable/deplorable negligence, in breach of Canons IV(r) and IV(s). No dishonesty was alleged or found. A fine of $200,000 was imposed (apportioned $150,000 to the complainant and $50,000 to the GLC), plus costs of $72,800 and an earlier costs order of $28,500.

Duties found breached:

• Overriding duty to the court
• No conflict between current clients

Aggravating factors:

• Complainant paid the full purchase price yet never received registered title after six years
• Failed to respond in writing to numerous letters from complainant, the Browns, and the complainant's English attorneys
• Complainant severely prejudiced - unable to complete sale to the Browns and unable to purchase a home in the UK
• Failed to lodge a caveat to protect the complainant's beneficial interest
• Failed to advise the complainant to sue the vendor for specific performance

Mitigating factors:

• Delay was partly attributable to the recalcitrance of the vendor Rebecca Buchanan and the additional owner Rev. Herman Thomas

⚠ figures not found verbatim in the source were dropped: ["unverified_costs_amount=101300"]