Decision record
Arlean D. Moreta Beckford
Allegation / charges
Guilty of Professional Misconduct | Disciplinary Committee decision delivered January 13, 2021. || Struck off, Restitution Ordered | Disciplinary Committee decision delivered January 26, 2021. View PDF DECISION OF THE DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE OF THE GENERAL LEGAL COUNCIL COMPLAINT NO: …
Findings — machine-extracted (anthropic-batch:claude-opus-4-8); verify against the decision
The Complainant engaged the Respondent to represent him in purchasing two lots of land and in an accident/damages claim. He paid $500,000 towards the land, of which the Attorney paid only $250,000 to the vendor and failed to account for the balance of $250,000. He also never received the $1,250,000 in general damages awarded and collected on his behalf. The Panel found the Attorney acted with inexcusable and deplorable negligence, failed to account for client monies, and inferred she misappropriated the funds, breaching Canons IV(s), VII(b)(ii) and I(b), amounting to professional misconduct under Canon VIII(d). Sanction was deferred to allow the Attorney to make representations.
Duties found breached:
- Overriding duty to the court
- Uphold public trust in the profession
- No conflict between current clients
- No improper use of client money
Aggravating factors:
- Betrayal of client's trust and confidence
- Failure to carry out any aspect of the business over 11 years (2004-2015)
- Made her whereabouts unknown to the Complainant and avoided him
- Misappropriation of client's money that ought to have been paid over
Duties engaged
Other decisions involving this respondent
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Documents
Source: https://www.generallegalcouncil.org/judgement/arlean-d-moreta-beckford-complaint-no-135-of-2013/