Pauline Simpson

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

Attorney Pauline Simpson gave unconditional undertakings to pay the balance of purchase money and half costs of US$92,802.24 in exchange for the duplicate certificate of title. Although her client paid her the funds and the title was delivered, she failed to honour the undertakings, made excuses and then left the island, forcing the purchaser to pay US$95,000 again to obtain clear title. She did not appear at the hearing, which proceeded in her absence after proper service. The Committee found her guilty of the worst kind of professional misconduct under Canons I(b) and VI(d), found no mitigating circumstances, and ordered her struck off the Roll of Attorneys-at-Law.

Duties found breached:

• No conflict between current clients
• No baseless or threatened misconduct report
• Honour professional undertakings

Aggravating factors:

• Client funds (US$138,146.04) received but balance of purchase money never paid over
• Attorney left the island and could not be located
• Purchaser forced to pay US$95,000 a second time to obtain clear title