GLC Says Norman Rodriguez’s “Conduct Amounts to Professional Misconduct”

The General Legal Council has concluded deliberations on a formal complaint filed by U.S.-based civil servant Bobbie Cain against attorney-at-law Norman Rodriguez. Cain, a part-time Belize City resident, accused Rodriguez of professional misconduct, alleging significant delays in filing a lawsuit for breach of contract against contractor Ainsworth Jones.

The Council found that Rodriguez breached multiple ethical obligations under the Legal Profession (Code of Conduct) Rules.

It was determined that his handling of Cain’s matter was unprofessional, marked by undue delays, inadequate communication, and a failure to act with the diligence required of attorneys. Rodriguez’s conduct violated Rule 28(1), which mandates attorneys to handle matters with expedition and provide progress updates, and Rule 69, which prohibits undue delay, negligence, or neglect.

The Council noted that Rodriguez had all necessary information to file Cain’s claim by November 2023 but failed to upload the Claim Form and Statement of Claim until March 2024—four months later. Despite receiving a $3,000 retainer in January 2020, Rodriguez took over 48 months to act, during which Cain made persistent follow-ups via WhatsApp messages and personal visits.

Rodriguez admitted to the delay and offered no satisfactory explanation, instead blaming the late submission of certain details, including the contractor’s address and the exact date of a 2018 oral agreement. The Council rejected this defence, stating that alternative legal provisions could have addressed these gaps, emphasising that the delays were avoidable.

In his testimony, Rodriguez denied failing Cain and maintained that her claim was not statute-barred. He cited delays caused by her late submission of critical information, including Jones’s address, which he claimed to have received in November 2023. He also pointed to challenges in obtaining the exact date of Jones’s alleged breach of contract.

Rodriguez admitted to failing to share drafts of the claim with Cain for review and to responding inadequately to her enquiries. During cross-examination, he acknowledged that he did not provide written responses to Cain’s WhatsApp messages or document his requests for information. He offered to partially refund Cain’s payment, citing time spent draughting the claim.

The Council was particularly critical of Rodriguez’s failure to act despite having all necessary information by November 2023. It described his delays as “inexplicable, inexcusable, and deplorable,” noting that they risked violating statutes of limitation and other legal thresholds. The Council stressed that filing claims is inherently time-sensitive and that Rodriguez’s inaction demonstrated a disregard for his ethical obligations.

The Council determined that Rodriguez’s conduct amounts to professional misconduct. He is required to provide a written explanation by December 12, 2024, to show cause why sanctions under Section 16(2) of the Legal Profession Act should not be imposed. Potential sanctions include fines, suspension, or disbarment, depending on the severity of the misconduct.