Law Society Regulatory Proceedings for December 2013

TORONTO, Jan. 15, 2014 /CNW/ - The Law Society of Upper Canada regulates the lawyers and paralegals of Ontario in the public interest. The Law Society ensures that all lawyers and licensed paralegals in Ontario meet standards of learning, professional competence and professional conduct that are appropriate for the legal services provided.

As part of this mandate, the Law Society's Hearing and Appeal Panels recently heard the following matters. Hearing and Appeal Panels are responsible for determining the appropriate disposition of cases.

Glen Hugh Peter Abrahams (1984) of the City of Toronto
Decision: The Lawyer is suspended for one month commencing December 13, 2013 and continuing until a specified condition is met.

David Charles Besant (1974), of the City of Toronto
Decision: The Lawyer is suspended for six months, starting February 1, 2014 and shall abide by specified terms.

Robert Gordon Durno (1974), of the City of Toronto
Decision: The Law Society's appeal was allowed in part, the Decision and Order of the hearing panel was set aside, and a new hearing was ordered before a differently constituted hearing panel.

Carolyn Arleen Fitz Gibbon (1989) of the Community of Breslau
Decision: The Lawyer shall begin an interim suspension as of Monday, December 23, 2013, until such time as the proceedings of the panel are completed.

Joseph Peter Paul Groia (1981), of the City of Toronto
The Lawyer's appeal from the Decision and Order dated April 18, 2013 was allowed in part. The appeal panel found him to have engaged in professional misconduct with respect to four of the six particulars of misconduct found by the hearing panel. The Lawyer is suspended for one month, starting 30 days after the release of the appeal panel's order with respect to costs.

John Gilbert Harding (1965) of the City of London
Decision: The Lawyer's licence is revoked effective December 2, 2013.

Demetrius Kotsakis (2003), of the City of Hamilton
Decision:  By order of November 6, 2013, the Lawyer was suspended 45 days for misconduct. That disciplinary suspension will start on December 15, 2013, if he has cured his administrative suspension prior to that date, but if he remains administratively suspended on that date, then the disciplinary suspension will start at the conclusion of the administrative suspension.

Nicole Lorain Lebarge (2008) of the Town of Cobourg
Decision: The Paralegal was granted permission to surrender her licence to provide legal services in Ontario by the end of December 5, 2013, failing which it will be revoked effective December 6, 2013.

Brian Eric Loria (2012) of the City of Toronto
Decision: The Paralegal is reprimanded and must comply with specified conditions.

Brian Francis McAllister (1998) of the City of Toronto
Decision: The Lawyer's licence is suspended for 30 days, continuing indefinitely until a specified condition is met.

Joseph Paradiso (1973), of the City of Vaughan
Decision: The Lawyer is suspended for nine months, starting December 7, 2013. After that, he will practise under the supervision of the Law Society, or its designate, for an additional nine months.

Diane Lynn Smith (2009) of the City of Barrie
Decision: The Paralegal is suspended for 30 days commencing at the end of her current administrative suspensions and continuing indefinitely thereafter until specified conditions are met.

Francis Peter Yungwirth (1987), of the City of Timmins
Decision: Further to the Order of July 15, 2013, the Lawyer shall pay to the Society costs in the amount of $23,500.

More information about these matters can be found on the Law Society's website.

Reasons for decisions when provided by the panel are available on the Canadian Legal Information Institute (CanLII) website.

Regulatory Notices, which are issued at the beginning of a proceeding and include Notices of Application, Notices of Referral for Hearing, Notices of Motion and Notices of Appeal, are also available on our website.

Catherine Mary Kerr [Lawyer]
City of Toronto, Notice of Application, Conduct, Filed on December 13, 2013

Kalim Urrahman Khan [Lawyer]
City of Vaughan, Notice of Application, Conduct, Filed on November 29, 2013

Patrick Thomas Edward Corkery McCool [Lawyer]
City of Toronto, Notice of Application, Conduct, Filed on November 28, 2013

Kerlan Garfield McLean [Paralegal]
City of Mississauga, Notice of Application, Conduct, Filed on December 11, 2013

Alec Mcleod McLennan [Lawyer]
Town of Oakville, Notice of Application, Conduct, Filed on November 26, 2013

Paul Louis Pauze [Paralegal]
Town of Penetanguishene, Notice of Application, Conduct, Filed on December 13, 2013

SOURCE: The Law Society of Upper Canada

If you require a copy of any specific notice, please contact Susan Tonkin, Communications Advisor, at 416-947-7605 or [email protected].