year ago ordering him to pay more than $1.6 million to a former client's estate.

Mr. Hall has been immersed in bankruptcy proceedings after being ordered to pay the cash.

Accountants Paul Hubbard and J. David Boden won a lawsuit against Mr. Hall while acting "as next friends of Betty Lorraine McMahon''. The Royal Gazette understands they are receivers for the McMahon estate.

Mrs. McMahon is the widow of Canadian millionaire Frank McMahon, who died in 1986 at his Harbour Road, Paget, home.

Mr. Hall, who previously acted as Mrs. McMahon's lawyer, was ordered to pay the full amount that was filed in the writ -- $1,609,740.63 -- plus simple interest at seven percent by Chief Justice Austin Ward in an in chambers hearing during December 1997.

Mr. Hall lost his house, at 42 Mount Hill, Pembroke, when it was auctioned off for $640,000 in February.

And Chief Justice Austin Ward made an order to appoint an official receiver of Mr. Hall's finances last March.

But yesterday Milligan Whyte and Smith lawyer Ian Kawaley appeared on Mr.

Hall's behalf before Bermuda's Court of Appeals.

Mr. Kawaley said it was "really quite unusually wrong'' for Mr. Hall to be cross-examined on his affidavit during 1997 court proceedings.

No one appeared on behalf of Mr. Hubbard and Mr. Boden, although it is understood that Mello Hollis Jones and Martin is the firm handling the matter.

The matter has been adjourned for both parties to appear and enter arguments on a date to be fixed by the Registrar.