MAN WHO GOT MINNETTE LAWRENCE DISBARRED SAID NO ONE WANTED HIS CASE

The businessman whose complaint resulted in attorney Minnette Lawrence being disbarred, is claiming that many lawyers refused to take on the case when he first sought to bring legal action against her.

Kaon Northover filed a complaint against Mrs Lawrence regarding a US$500,000 investment.

Mr. Northover also filed a lawsuit in the Supreme Court and won the case.

He said things started to go awry 45 days after signing an agreement involving Mrs Lawrence.

Mr. Northover said that was when he sought to retain another attorney, but it was almost impossible.

“No one wanted to take the case, absolutely nobody, and whoever would take it wanted retainers up to 15-20 thousand US dollars, and that was a challenge for me at that time,” he recalled.

Mr. Northover said it was not until five years later in 2013, that he was able to secure his current attorney, Joseph Jarrett.

Disbarred

In its decision, the General Legal Council panel found Mrs Lawrence guilty of professional misconduct.

The panel said she failed to refrain from behaviour which tended to discredit the legal profession.

In imposing sanctions, the panel ordered Mrs Lawrence to pay US$498,000 to Mr. Northover, with interest of two per cent, effective September 28, 2008.

The attorney was also ordered to pay a cost of J$750,000 to Mr. Northover.

Mrs Lawrence is to appeal the ruling.

Her attorney, Christopher Dunkley, told RJR News on Monday morning that the legal team has six weeks within which to file an appeal.

Mr. Dunkley said the team will be seeking an early date to state its case before the Court of Appeal.