Lawyers Allegedly Behaving Badly

[dapaterson]

Galati’s special. Another one who went down some serious rabbit holes. He has not had a good couple of years.

Whatever do you mean?

Controversial lawyer ordered to pay $132,000 to fellow lockdown foes

Judge concluded Rocco Galati was trying to silence critics of a lawsuit alleging a pandemic conspiracy involving Trudeau, the WEF, and WHO.

nationalpost.com

 

[brihard]

Whatever do you mean?

Controversial lawyer ordered to pay $132,000 to fellow lockdown foes

Judge concluded Rocco Galati was trying to silence critics of a lawsuit alleging a pandemic conspiracy involving Trudeau, the WEF, and WHO.

nationalpost.com

He quieted down quite a bit after he almost died, but he still had a number of garbage cases moving through the courts.

 

[lenaitch]

He quieted down quite a bit after he almost died, but he still had a number of garbage cases moving through the courts.

It seems the pandemic response piqued his ire. His involvement with LSO tribunals predated that.

His (well, his Constitutional Rights Centre) track record for taking on various levels of government isn't particularly stellar.

 

[daftandbarmy]

Meanwhile, in BC:

BC lawyer admits to sexual misconduct, resigns from practice two weeks after announcing retirement​

A family law lawyer in Surrey, British Columbia, resigned his Law Society of BC membership after admitting to more than two decades of sexual misconduct, including taking surreptitious photographs of an employee’s cleavage and penning a confessional letter about his sexual and romantic feelings towards another employee.

Under a consent agreement with the law society, Stuart Zukerman of Zukerman Law will not practise law for five years; apply for membership to any other law society without first advising the LSBC; work in any capacity for any lawyer or law firm in Canada without first obtaining the consent of LSBC’s executive director.

In September 2023, Zukerman also promised the LSBC he would not be alone with any person who identifies as female while practising law. The LSBC said this rule was in place while the law society was investigating a complaint from a lawyer previously employed at Zukerman’s firm and would stay in place until Zukerman’s resignation on Nov. 30.

BC lawyer admits to sexual misconduct, resigns from practice two weeks after announcing retirement

The LSBC says Stuart Zukerman's misconduct spans more than two decades

www.canadianlawyermag.com

 

[brihard]

It seems the pandemic response piqued his ire. His involvement with LSO tribunals predated that.

His (well, his Constitutional Rights Centre) track record for taking on various levels of government isn't particularly stellar.

He ended up in ICU on a ventilator for a while and pretty much faded from prominence after that.

 

[dapaterson]

This may well be the ultimate Army.CA issue:

Retired CAF lawyer, charged by the MPs for allegedly impersonating a CAF officer, charges dropped, but facing bar sanction for not reporting the criminal code charges laid by the MPs - about which noted retired CAF lawyer Rory Fowler has a few things to say...

https://www.canlii.org/en/on/onlst/doc/2024/2024onlsth91/2024onlsth91.html

More Military Police Shenanigans

More Military Police Shenanigans 9 October 2024 The military police of the Canadian Forces have difficulty understanding their jurisdiction. A little over a month ago, I read an interesting decision from the Law Society Tribunal (Hearing Division) of the Law Society of Ontario.[1] Law...

roryfowlerlaw.com

 

[Fishbone Jones]

Does an officer not retain his commission after release/ retirement?

 

[daftandbarmy]

Does an officer not retain his commission after release/ retirement?

Of course

 

[dapaterson]

Does an officer not retain his commission after release/ retirement?

There are regulations in when one can claim to be rank (retired) which the gentleman in question did not reach; and a commission does not entitle one to claim status post-release

 

[FJAG]

There are regulations in when one can claim to be rank (retired) which the gentleman in question did not reach; and a commission does not entitle one to claim status post-release

That's interesting. I don't want to send you off on a research hunt, but I never knew that before. It seems bloody mean-spirited.

 

[dapaterson]

That's interesting. I don't want to send you off on a research hunt, but I never knew that before. It seems bloody mean-spirited.

A minimum of ten years.

QR&O: Volume I - Chapter 15 Release - Canada.ca

Queen's Regulations and Orders - QR&O - Chapter 15 - Release

www.canada.ca

 

[FJAG]

A minimum of ten years.

QR&O: Volume I - Chapter 15 Release - Canada.ca

Queen's Regulations and Orders - QR&O - Chapter 15 - Release

www.canada.ca

And it's a minister's regulation too. You know that there is entirely too much bureaucracy in the military when people spend time coming up with something like this, which undoubtedly engaged a number of other people in debating the issue of "what is the appropriate period of service before a person can call him/herself 'x rank (ret'd)' rather than merely 'honourably released'?" Is there anything useful to be obtained in denying an 8-year captain or master corporal that privilege?

I know that I'm probably more cynical about the lengths that the military will go to in the field of regulating absolutely useless bullshit, but this one takes the cake, IMHO. It's just so petty and arbitrary. I'm sure that somewhere there are folks who consider this to be an absolutely vital limitation to impose on folks who have served their country (but apparently not long enough to suit them). But, honestly, WTF?

(And, no! After 44 years in the CAF with 25 in the legal branch, I never knew about this piece of .)

 

[dapaterson]

Much of the QR&O has undergone minimal change since unification. This was probably an easy way to abolish the retired lists and thus assuage someone's ego, years ago.

Note that since about 2000 amendments have the date attached to them - so this regulation is old and, like many, probably not maintained.

 

[dapaterson]

And PS: master corporal is an appointment, not a rank

 

[Blackadder1916]

And it's a minister's regulation too. You know that there is entirely too much bureaucracy in the military when people spend time coming up with something like this, which undoubtedly engaged a number of other people in debating the issue of "what is the appropriate period of service before a person can call him/herself 'x rank (ret'd)' rather than merely 'honourably released'?" Is there anything useful to be obtained in denying an 8-year captain or master corporal that privilege?

I know that I'm probably more cynical about the lengths that the military will go to in the field of regulating absolutely useless bullshit, but this one takes the cake, IMHO. It's just so petty and arbitrary. I'm sure that somewhere there are folks who consider this to be an absolutely vital limitation to impose on folks who have served their country (but apparently not long enough to suit them). But, honestly, WTF?

(And, no! After 44 years in the CAF with 25 in the legal branch, I never knew about this piece of .)

If I recall correctly, that QR&O (KR&O, when?) restricted the use of "retired rank" to Captains (and above) or their navy and air force equivalent. The inclusion of all ranks may have been a change in the 1980s or 1990s. However, if one goes back to the 1917 KRs, the rules were a little different.



Restricting the use to officers is still the way in the British Forces.



But down under they haven't yet embraced including all ranks:

https://www.stylemanual.gov.au/grammar-punctuation-and-conventions/titles-honours-forms-address/australian-defence-force#address_retired_officers_of_the_adf_by_rank

Address retired officers of the ADF by rank
Commissioned officers who retire can continue to use their military rank. When writing their name, use their rank and include ‘(Retd)’ after any post-nominals.

Example

• General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK CVO MC (Retd)

As to appropriateness, Sir Humphrey has an opinion.

Ranking It In? Should the Military Retain Their Rank Titles on Retirement?

Defence blog focusing on 21st century analysis of Cold War defence, security and continuity of government problems.

thinpinstripedline.blogspot.com

 

[dapaterson]

Suspended Ottawa lawyer James Bowie has been ordered to pay a former client — and plaintiff in a civil case against him — more than $235,000 after proposing she pay for his legal services with oral sex and disclosing personal details about her online after her allegations garnered media coverage.

In an Oct. 11 decision, Superior Court Justice Heather Williams wrote that Bowie's actions were "shocking" and "offend the court's sense of decency."

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/james-bowie-civil-lawsuit-judgment-1.7090754

 

[dapaterson]

Plot twist: the lawyer for someone accused of sexual assault is also accused of sexual assault.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/lawyer-charges-worsoff-1.7363674

 

[dapaterson]

Cartel and Bui are the gift (grift?) that keep on giving. Thirty days for contempt. And a judge commenting on how Bui somehow was able to vacation in Portugal after having allegedly surrendered her passport. Meanwhile, the financial records of their firm and their selves have not been surrendered to the court.

If you're a lawyer in Ontario wondering why your bar fees are increasing...

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/cartel-bui-lawyers-sentenced-contempt-1.7364329

 

[FJAG]

If you're a lawyer in Ontario wondering why your bar fees are increasing...

Happily retired.

 

[dapaterson]

Here's hoping someone notes the past history of misconduct and the lack of action by the bar, and seeks damages from the bar for their inaction.

If the bar starts getting hit with damages for a failure to protect the public, pre emptive suspension may well become a thing.