The Court of Appeal has upheld a ruling by the disciplinary committee of the General Legal Council that attorney-at-law Jonathan Vernon Ricketts must be disbarred.

In 2006, the disciplinary committee struck Ricketts off the roll of attorneys-at-law because of professional misconduct.

Ricketts' clients Frederick and Madge Morris complained that in 2003 he was paid $2 million to effect the transfer of nine lots of land in Westmoreland to several purchasers. They said they made several calls and visits to Ricketts' office but the transfers were not done.

The disciplinary committee had a hearing and found that Ricketts failed to provide the couple with information as to the progress of their business and did not deal with the matter expeditiously.

Negligence

It was also held that Ricketts acted with inexcusable negligence in the performance of his duties. He was ordered to make restitution as the disciplinary committee found that Ricketts had the money for more than three years.

Ricketts appealed on the grounds that the decision to disbar him was drastic and harsh.

The appeal was filed against the General Legal Council on August 10, 2006. A case-management conference was held on November 28, 2006, and Ricketts was ordered to file records of appeal by December 2006 and skeleton arguments by by January 8, 2007.

Ricketts did not comply with the orders and, when the appeal came for hearing last week, an application was made for an adjournment.

In dismissing the appeal, the court said that Ricketts showed a total lack of respect for the court orders made at the case-management conference.

The court said that, on the total picture presented by the unchallenged facts of the case, there was no basis for an adjournment.

The court said it saw no reason to disturb the disciplinary committee's decision and dismissed the appeal.