Former lawyer Rene Henri Daignault suspended for three months

Former lawyer Rene Henri Daignault has received a three-month suspension for professional misconduct.

The LSBC Tribunal found that from 2016 to 2021, Daignault failed to make reasonable inquiries when he used his firm’s trust account to receive and disburse more than $6 million in objectively suspicious circumstances.. Additionally, while acting as an escrow agent and dealing with unrepresented persons, the Lawyer failed to advise those persons that he was not protecting their interests and they should get independent legal advice.

The hearing panel considered the seriousness of the misconduct, Daignault’s repeated breaches of his gatekeeper duty with regard to the trust account, repeated failures to give the required warning to unrepresented persons, and a prior professional conduct record showing similar misconduct. The misconduct undermines public trust in the legal profession and negatively impacts the reputation of the profession generally, requiring a clear message to the public and the legal profession that ignoring these obligations will not be tolerated.

Daignault’s suspension is effective immediately if and when he resumes practicing law. He has also been ordered to pay $5,100 in costs.

For the panel’s detailed reasons, see the decision of the hearing panel.