Langley lawyer suspended for sexual harassment, racist remarks to employees
A Langley lawyer will be suspended for four and a half months after admitting to professional misconduct that included sexual harassment, racist remarks and creating a hostile work environment.
A hearing panel of the Law Society of B.C. Tribunal decided on July 12 to accept a joint submission from lawyer Rowan MacKenzie Davison and the other parties involved in the case. The decision was published on the law society website last week.
There were two separate citations against Davison containing five total allegations. Collectively, they alleged that Davison had committed misconduct between 2018 and 2021 by "making unwelcome remarks, engaging in unwanted contact of a sexual nature and making racist or discriminatory remarks to several employees," according to a statement from the law society.
Among the specific allegations detailed in the decision were two attempts to kiss female subordinates, multiple instances of touching female employees' clothes, and an instance in which he asked one if she was wearing a bra.
He also referred to himself and others as "round-eyed people," while speaking to a group that included a person of South Asian descent and told two employees "not to hire any brown people," according to the decision.
When questioned about this last remark, Davison told the employees "words to the effect that he was 'tired of the drama brown people bring to the office,'" the decision reads.
In the joint submission, Davison acknowledged that his conduct was wrong. He also submitted that the firm had held a mandatory sensitivity training, appointed a human resources manager and drafted a "policy guide" in response to the complaints about his conduct.
In a partial transcript of an interview between Davison and an investigator from the law society that was included in the joint submission, the lawyer describes his behaviour as "shameful" and says he has changed.
"We did do the sensitivity training and I, I can assure the law society that I’ve done a complete about-face, a 180" the transcript reads. "Please don’t, but you could talk to any staff member and they would have nothing but glowing things to say about me."
By deciding to accept the joint submission, the panel also agreed to the proposed discipline it contained.
The panel ordered Davison to pay costs of $3,500 to the law society, and to serve a four-and-a-half-month suspension, which will begin on Aug. 16.
Davison is also subject to two conditions once his suspension ends. First, he cannot practice law unless he or the firm for which he works has "a policy in place acceptable to the law society regarding sexual harassment and discriminatory behaviour."
Second, he or his firm must retain "an external lawyer acceptable to the Law Society whose role it is to receive and investigate any complaints against (him) related to sexual harassment or discriminatory behaviour." That lawyer will report any substantiated complaints of such conduct to the law society following an investigation.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Security guard shot, seriously injured outside of Drake's Toronto mansion
A security guard working at Drake’s Bridle Path mansion in Toronto was seriously injured in a shooting outside the residence early Tuesday morning, police said.
King Charles too busy to see son Prince Harry during U.K. trip
Prince Harry will not be seeing his father King Charles during his current visit to Britain as the monarch will be too busy, Harry's spokesperson said on Tuesday.
Your body needs these three forms of movement every week
Movement is movement, right? Not exactly. Here’s what your body is looking for in addition to your morning walk or yoga session, according to experts.
'It looked so legit': Ontario man pays $7,700 for luxury villa found on Booking.com, but the listing was fake
An Ontario man says he paid more than $7,700 for a luxury villa he found on a popular travel website -- but the listing was fake.
Canadian cadets rock mullets and place second at U.S. military competition
Sporting mullets, Canadian Armed Forces officer cadets placed second in an annual military skills competition in the U.S.
Ford to recall some pickup trucks in Canada over tail light failure
Ford is set to recall some pickup trucks in Canada due to potential tail light failure.
The Met Gala was in full bloom with Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Mindy Kaling among the standout stars
The Met Gala and its fashionista A-listers on Monday included Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya and a parade of others in a swirl of flora and fauna looks on a green-tinged carpet lined by live foliage.
Quebec to limit sperm donations per donor after 3 men from same family father hundreds of children
Quebec is looking at tightening the regulations around sperm donation in the province following the release of a documentary that revealed three men from the same family fathered hundreds of children.
How to overcome 'savings guilt' when you're living paycheque to paycheque
As the higher cost of living continues to squeeze household budgets, many Canadians find they have even less left over at the end of every month to squirrel away for the future.