Decision record
Howard A. Lettman
Allegation / charges
Guilty of Professional Misconduct | Disciplinary Committee decision delivered June 24, 2017. || Struck off | Disciplinary Committee decision delivered February 05, 2018. View PDF DECISION OF THE DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE OF THE GENERAL LEGAL COUNCIL COMPLAINT NO: 29/2014 IN THE …
Findings — machine-extracted (anthropic-batch:claude-opus-4-8); verify against the decision
Elderly complainant Hazel Hanson retained Attorney Howard Lettman in 1995 to obtain title to land she purchased for $250,000, which she paid in full. After 21 years she had received no title and no information about the matter. The Attorney repeatedly failed to appear over years of hearings. The Panel, satisfied of proper service, proceeded in his absence, found the Complainant a witness of truth, and concluded beyond reasonable doubt that the Attorney breached Canons IV(r), IV(s) and I(b) through failure to progress the business, deplorable negligence, and conduct discrediting the profession. Sanctions were reserved for a separate hearing; no express finding of dishonesty was made.
Duties found breached:
- Overriding duty to the court
- Uphold public trust in the profession
- No conflict between current clients
Aggravating factors:
- Failure to deliver title after 21 years
- No communication with the client
- Persistent absence from hearings over many years
- No explanation offered
Mitigating factors:
- Partial reimbursement of the Complainant's expenses ($140,000 of $232,000) and repayment of some sums
Duties engaged
Other decisions involving this respondent
- 116 of 2015
- 57 of 2008
- 212 of 2017
- 57 of 2008
- 215 of 2017
- 215 of 2017
- 16 of 2016
- 212 of 2017
- 16 of 2016
- 124 of 2015
Matched by respondent name — may include a different person with the same name.
Documents
Source: https://www.generallegalcouncil.org/judgement/howard-a-lettman-complaint-no-29-of-2014/