Vancouver – A BC lawyer has been suspended for one month after attempting to delay a Law Society discipline hearing by claiming he was scheduled to be in court the same day.
Andrew James Liggett was the subject of a hearing set for September 24, 2010. He indicated to the Society he could not attend because he was scheduled to be in court for the second day of a two-day trial. However Liggett already knew the second day of the trial had been adjourned when he faxed the Society an outdated notice of trial. The Law Society panel that heard the evidence decided that Liggett acted recklessly but not with an intent to mislead the Society in this misrepresentation. His actions are considered serious misconduct by the regulator.
“Lawyers must approach the Law Society and its discipline process with the utmost integrity and good faith,” said Deborah Armour, the Law Society’s Chief Legal Officer. “If they don’t, they face appropriate consequences.”
A panel has ordered Liggett suspended for one month, with a start date of March 1, 2012, subject to change based on any considerations necessary to meet the needs of his clients. The panel also ordered the lawyer to pay $ 6,000 in costs incurred by the Society.
For details, see the decision on facts and determination and the decision on disciplinary action.
The Law Society of British Columbia regulates the more than 10,000 lawyers in the province, setting and enforcing standards of professional conduct that ensure the public is well-served by a competent, honourable legal profession.
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For further information or to arrange an interview contact:
Lesley Pritchard
Communications Officer
604.443.5708
lpritchard@lsbc.org
Robyn Crisanti
Manager, Communications and Public Affairs
604.697.5845
rcrisanti@lsbc.org