Cases involving victims of bad lawyers
TORONTO – Here are some cases involving bad lawyers where victims received no compensation:
Who: Linofiel Eroma
What: Convicted and jailed after lawyer failed to let him testify, arrested for bail breach because of lawyer’s negligence
Judgment: Awarded $120,752 in March 2015
LawPro: Refused coverage on failure to co-operate grounds
Current status: Hearing in 2019 to try to garnish award from LawPro
Quote: “We should deny coverage or attempt to settle.” — senior litigator with LawPro in internal note.
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Who: Nalliah Balachandran
What: Lawyer failed to act properly in a dispute with a franchisor
Judgment: Awarded $188,646 in March 2012
LawPro: Refused coverage on failure to co-operate grounds
Current status: Still trying to collect
Quote: “I left the business broken heartedly and put my faith in the lawyer.” — Nallia Balachandran
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Who: Carolina Caputo
What: Badly hurt in a car crash but lawyer failed to claim benefits
Judgment: Awarded $321,500 in April 2014
LawPro: Refused coverage on failure to co-operate grounds.
Current status: Hearing in mid-December to try to garnish award from LawPro
Quote: “It’s grotesque. People need to know that they’ve got nothing if their lawyer just decides not to pick up the phone.” — Lawyer Ava Hillier
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Who: Martin Ceh-Seremet and Dubrauka Kottnig-Ceh
What: Injured in separate car crashes and fall on bus
Judgment: Awarded more than $437,000 in April 2017
LawPro: Refused coverage on failure to co-operate grounds.
Current status: Still trying to collect
Quote: “His conduct is appalling and merits sanction. Had punitive damages been claimed…I would have awarded them.” — Justice Darla Wilson on lawyer Michael J. Webster.
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Licence Revocations:
2015 – 14
2016 – 9
2017 – 10
Permission to Resign:
2015 – 8
2016 – 9
2017 – 4
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SOURCE: The Canadian Press/Law Society of Ontario
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