Lawyer Fined $1000 For Professional Misconduct
Last year, Inoke Lutumailagi failed to conduct his client’s transfer of legal title of a property and the complaint was taken to the Chief Registrar.
Wednesday 29 April 2020 | 14:07
A lawyer pleaded guilty to professional misconduct by the Independent Legal Service Commission and fined $1000 with his licence being suspended until he off his fine.
Last year, Inoke Lutumailagi failed to conduct his client’s transfer of legal title of a property and the complaint was taken to the Chief Registrar.
The Chief Registrar, on two occasions, brought the complaint to the attention of Lutumailagi giving him time to act on both occasions, but he failed to do so.
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On February 17, 2020, the Chief Registrar charged Mr Lutumailagi with professional misconduct contrary to section 82(1)(a) of the Legal Practitioners Act (the Act).
Independent Legal Service Commissioner, Justice Daniel Goundar in his sanction said, Lutumailagi had made a decision to defy the statutory requirements for accountability.
“He responded to the complaint on March 18, 2020 after he was charged with professional misconduct.
“The practitioner’s defiance has brought disrepute to the legal profession. The misconduct is objectively serious,” he said.
Lutumailagi, who was publicly reprimanded, had entered an early guilty plea and was genuinely remorseful.
Edited by Ranoba Baoa
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