In re: Lillian Annette Ramos Bahamundi

Summary

The Supreme Court of Puerto Rico consolidated two disciplinary proceedings against attorney and notary Lillian Annette Ramos Bahamundi and immediately suspended her from the practice of law and notary for six months for violating Canons 9, 12, 18, 19, 20, 23, 35 and 38 of the Code of Professional Ethics. In the first matter she retained fees for a damages complaint she decided not to file while leading the client to believe it had been filed, delayed over a year in refunding, and never returned the file or the $90 filing-stamp cost; in the second she ignored this Court's orders and the Attorney General's requisitions, disregarded trial-court orders, failed to keep her client informed, and waited over four years to record a mortgage-cancellation deed. Adopting the Special Commissioner's findings, supported by clear, robust and convincing evidence, and weighing the aggravating prior two-year suspension against mitigating factors such as the absence of profit motive, restitution and remorse, the Court imposed the suspension with ancillary client-protection obligations. No separate opinions were filed.