Law Society Tribunal Regulatory Proceedings for May 2014

TORONTO, June 12, 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.

The Law Society Tribunal recently heard the following matters. The Tribunal, which is an independent administrative tribunal within the Law Society, is responsible for processing, hearing and deciding these cases.

Simon Paul Barker (1993) of the City of Peterborough
Decision: The Lawyer's licence was revoked on May 1, 2014.

William John Franklin Bishop (1973) of the City of Kingston
Decision: The Lawyer's appeal from the order dated June 19, 2013 was dismissed. His licence was revoked 60 days after May 5, 2014, or such later date agreed upon by the parties.

Roderick John Byrnes (1987) de Toronto
L'appel interjeté par l'avocat, à l'encontre de l'ordonnance datant du 6 septembre 2013, a été rejeté.

Dorothy Elizabeth DeMerchant (1984) of the City of Toronto
Decision: The Law Society shall pay costs to the Lawyer in the amount of $250,000.

Roy Anthony Dullege of the Municipality of Tweed
Decision: His application for licensing as a lawyer was dismissed.

Carolyn Arleen Fitz Gibbon (1989) of the Community of Breslau
Decision: The Lawyer is suspended for three months commencing May 8, 2014, followed by an indefinite suspension until the investigator is satisfied that the Lawyer has complied with the outstanding requests from the Law Society to the best of her ability.

Cherif Rafik Ghobrial (2012) of the City of Toronto
Decision: The Lawyer is suspended for 90 days commencing at the conclusion of his current administrative suspension and continuing indefinitely until he complies with outstanding correspondence from the Law Society investigator.

Sue-Ann Harry (2008) of the City of Toronto
Decision: The Paralegal shall be suspended for 30 days, commencing after the completion of any current suspension or prohibition, and continuing indefinitely until a specified condition is met.

David Grant Isaac (1974) of the City of Mississauga
Decision: The Lawyer is suspended for one month commencing July 1, 2014, and continuing indefinitely until specified conditions are met.

Colin Graham Alfred James (1981) of the City of Toronto
Decision: Further to its order of March 13, 2014, dismissing motions for the production of certain materials and striking specified paragraphs of an affidavit, the Lawyer shall pay costs of $13,325.

Kenneth James (1969) of the City of Vaughan
Decision: The Lawyer was ordered to pay costs to the Society in the amount of $10,500.

Thangavel Muthali Kesavan (2003) of the City of Toronto
Decision: The Lawyer's appeal from the order dated August 11, 2011, is dismissed. Revocation of his licence is upheld.

Paulos Luizos (1998) of the City of Toronto
Decision: The Lawyer was suspended for a period of six months. He was given two months credit for the time he ceased practising pursuant to his undertaking not to practice. The remaining four months shall be served from May 13, 2014 to September 13, 2014. He must also comply with specified conditions.

Clarke Austin Merritt (1978) of the City of Toronto
Decision: The Lawyer is suspended for 12 months, commencing July 1, 2014. The Lawyer shall not practise real estate or conveyancing law for one year after his return to practise and shall comply with other specified conditions.

Gary Neinstein (1970) of the City of Toronto
The Lawyer is suspended for six months, commencing on a date to be agreed upon by counsel.

Kenneth Charles Pope (1980) of the City of Ottawa
Decision: The Lawyer was suspended for four months, starting four weeks from April 30, 2014.

Marvin Barry Shifman (1980) of the Town of Richmond Hill
Decision: On appeal from the order dated April 29, 2013, a seven-month suspension starting July 1, 2014 was substituted for the previously imposed penalty.

Roland Spiegel (2008) of the Town of Richmond Hill
Decision: The Paralegal's motion was dismissed and he shall pay costs to the Law Society of $2,000.

Darren Elliot Sukonick (1996), of the City of Toronto
Decision: The Law Society shall pay costs to the Lawyer in the amount of $250,000.

Robert George Vanderploeg (2008) of the City of Hamilton
Decision: The Paralegal is suspended for 31 days commencing at the conclusion of his current administrative suspension and continuing indefinitely until he complies with outstanding correspondence from the Law Society investigation.

Norma Jean Walton (1995) of the City of Toronto
Decision: The Lawyer is suspended for 18 months commencing July 1, 2014.

More information about the Tribunal process can be found on the new Law Society Tribunal website.

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

Information about upcoming hearings is available here.

Notices of Application and Referral for Hearing are available here.

Janelle Susan Harvie Bereznick [Lawyer]
Community of Brooklin, Amended Notice of Application, Conduct, Filed on May 6, 2014

Philippe Joseph Mario Dioguardi [Lawyer]
City of Mississauga, Notice of Application, Conduct, Filed on April 15, 2014

Donald Andrew Scott Grant [Lawyer]
City of Toronto, Notice of Application, Conduct, Filed on April 9, 2014

Warren Augustine Lyon [Lawyer]
City of Toronto, Notice of Application, Conduct, Filed on April 25, 2014

Vivek Nijhawan [Former Lawyer]
City of Ottawa, Notice of Referral for Hearing, Licensing, Filed on April 28, 2014

Stephen Andrew Troyer [Paralegal Applicant]
Community of Hensall, Notice of Referral for Hearing, Licensing, Filed on May 22, 2014

SOURCE: The Law Society of Upper Canada

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