Attorney Ordered to Pay Client Over $650,000 in Long-Standing Property Dispute

A local attorney has been ordered by the Belize High Court to pay one of his clients more than half a million dollars.  It is a case that dates back to 2008, when American national, Brendan Mangan contracted Attorney Mansel Turton to acquire a beachside property in Caye Caulker on his behalf.  Mangan provided the attorney with some three hundred thousand US dollars to make the purchase, and had also paid a retainer to have Turton investigate the title of the property and to subsequently file the necessary documents with the Lands Department to finalize the purchase.  The attorney reportedly began the proceedings but at some point, the Registrar of Lands had canceled the transfer of the property and Turton failed to notify his client of the situation.  Documents presented in court showed that in 2010, Turton informed his client that the title would be ready in six weeks.  The final paper works were never delivered, and in 2012 when Mangan came to Belize to visit the property, he found that a building had been constructed on the land.  Upon making checks at the Lands Department, he found that he was not the owner of the property.  He subsequently sued the attorney who vehemently denied having any knowledge of the matter nor had he ever met the client, Brendan Mangan.  He also attempted to lean on the statute of limitations for a claim of fraud.  In the end, Turton was found liable and was ordered to pay 650 thousand dollars plus interest, and costs.  Interestingly, Attorney Turton, who was defended by Attorney Ian Gray, is in his 80s.  Mangan was represented by Rene Montero Junior.