28 Mar 2019
JOHNSON v CANTERBURY/WESTLAND STANDARDS COMMITTEE 3 [2019] NZHC 619
- Citation
- [2019] NZHC 619
- Court
- High Court
The High Court affirmed the Tribunal: given the referral circumstances, the retainer extended beyond conveyancing mechanics to include ensuring trustees understood their duties and conflicts; the solicitor's failures amounted to negligence of a degree bringing the profession into disrepute ('high-end' negligence); multiple and prolonged trust-account breaches, including false monthly certificates, amounted to misconduct; cumulative consideration of all conduct justified suspension for three months and costs.