Former Vancouver lawyer Daniel James Barker suspended for six months for professional misconduct

Former Vancouver lawyer Daniel James Barker has been suspended for six months and ordered to pay $19,339 in costs.

The hearing panel found that Barker committed professional misconduct for failing to be on guard against becoming the tool or dupe of unscrupulous clients and persons and failing to make reasonable inquires in the face of suspicious circumstances.

At the disciplinary action phase, the hearing panel accepted the parties’ joint submission, suspending Barker for six months because he was found to have been wilfully blind over a 20-month period to numerous red flags, including the fact that an alleged fraudster was the main point of contact for his 13 clients in 11 real estate matters and 26 trust transactions.

As Barker is currently a retired lawyer, the suspension would take effect immediately if and when he resumes practising law.

The full decision of the hearing panel can be read here.