Sask. lawyer’s disbarment case not unduly delayed, Supreme Court docket guidelines

The Supreme Court docket of Canada has dominated that Prince Albert lawyer Peter V. Abrametz didn’t face undue delays in his disciplinary course of.

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The Supreme Court docket of Canada has dominated that — regardless of a multi-year investigation into expenses of misconduct in opposition to him — Prince Albert lawyer Peter V. Abrametz didn’t face undue delays throughout these disciplinary hearings.

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In 2018, the Saskatchewan Legislation Society discovered Abrametz responsible of “conduct unbecoming a member of the bar” after an investigation into his monetary information.

The legislation society stated Abrametz, who has practiced legislation in Prince Albert for almost 50 years and focuses on private harm instances, had been operating an “elaborate” belief fund scheme, issuing high-interest loans to weak purchasers and personally cashing checks from purchasers that weren’t being recorded within the legislation workplace’s normal account.

Earlier than that, in 2013, the legislation society quickly suspended Abrametz earlier than permitting him to proceed working towards legislation below sure situations.

As a result of the legislation society’s disciplinary course of in opposition to him took so lengthy, Abrametz argued that it amounted to an abuse of course of.

Although the legislation society’s Listening to Committee dismissed Abrametz’s argument, the Court docket of Enchantment for Saskatchewan agreed with him.

Nonetheless, the Supreme Court docket of Canada has now issued an 8-1 resolution in favor of the legislation society, stating that there was no abuse of course of on this case.

“The (Saskatchewan) Court docket of Enchantment departed from its correct function when it substituted its personal findings of reality, notably on the dimensions and complexity of the investigation,” wrote Supreme Court docket Justice Malcolm Rowe.

On this case, the Supreme Court docket has dominated that, though there was actually an extended delay, it was neither “inordinate” nor considerably unfair to Abrametz.

Moreover, it was famous this was a posh case that took time to correctly examine.

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The Supreme Court docket’s ruling additionally famous that “a major share of delay within the proceedings must be attributed to Mr. Abrametz, as a result of his unavailability or the unavailability of his counsel.”

Nonetheless, although the Court docket awarded prices to the legislation society on this case, it additionally stated that “the actions of the Legislation Society weren’t above reproach,” and that it ought to make “each effort” to wrap up disciplinary proceedings in a well timed method and “safeguard procedural equity.”

Peter V. Abrametz is to not be confused along with his son, Peter A. Abrametz, who can also be a lawyer in Prince Albert.

— Native Journalism Initiative

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