A SUVA lawyer has been handed a three-month suspension by the Independent Legal Services Commission (ILSC) after being found guilty of professional misconduct for failing to protect a client’s interests and keep the client informed about the progress of a case.
In a sanctions ruling delivered last month, Acting Commissioner Justice Savenaca Banuve found that lawyer Isireli Ramanu had failed to file a personal injury claim within the required limitation period and failed to properly update his client on the matter.
The ruling noted that Mr Ramanu obtained money from the complainant on three occasions in 2016 on the understanding it would be used for a personal injury claim, but no claim was filed.
The commission also identified a lack of candour and taking advantage of a vulnerable client as aggravating factors.
While the ILSC suspended Mr Ramanu’s practising certificate for three months, the suspension will not take effect if he complies with a series of conditions within 28 days.
These include paying $4686 in compensation to the complainant, paying $3000 in costs to the Chief Registrar and providing an affidavit or statutory declaration to support any application by the complainant to file a personal injury claim out of time. The Commission also formally reprimanded Mr Ramanu.
Justice Banuve said the case did not fall within the most serious category warranting removal from the roll, but found a suspension was necessary given the seriousness of the misconduct and its impact on public confidence in the legal profession.
If Mr Ramanu fails to comply with all conditions, the three-month suspension will take effect automatically.
