Law society suspends lawyer named in residential school lawsuit; didn’t pay dues
EDMONTON – A Calgary lawyer being sued by Indian residential school survivors can no longer practise law in Alberta.
The Law Society of Alberta says it has suspended lawyer David Blott because he failed to pay his annual fees.
In 2012, the B.C. Supreme Court ruled that Blott & Co. could no longer represent 5,600 survivors seeking federal compensation for abuse they suffered in residential schools.
The judge ruled that Blott’s firm did not treat his clients properly and helped set up high-interest loans with lending companies for some survivors.
The lawsuit filed last October alleges he conspired to deprive residential school survivors of rightful compensation for sexual and physical abuse.
Blott was not available for comment, but in a statement of defence denies all of the lawsuit’s allegations.
The law society, which regulates and licenses lawyers in Alberta, is conducting a review of Blott’s conduct that could result in disciplinary action.
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