Vancouver lawyer suspended for 2 months after admitting financial misconduct
The Law Society of British Columbia has suspended Vancouver lawyer Paul Doroshenko for two months for professional misconduct involving client trust funds.
In a consent agreement published on the law society's website, Doroshenko admits to a variety of incidents involving the funds, all of which he attributes to his inattentiveness to the administrative side of his law practice.
Doroshenko admits that the incidents constitute misconduct and that he is personally responsible for ensuring that his firm's accounting records are properly kept, but he also attributes the accounting issues to staff members, and says that personal injuries he suffered prevented him from adequately supervising his employees.
The financial issues listed in the consent agreement took place between 2013 and 2019 and include:
- 82 instances of misappropriating or improperly withdrawing funds, worth a total of $44,353.19
- 82 instances in which he did at least one of the following: failed to identify a trust shortage, failed to pay it back or failed to report it to the law society
- 65 instances in which he failed to maintain sufficient funds in trust for his clients
- 20 instances of failing to deposit trust funds - worth a total of $25,095.93 - as soon as practicable
- Failing to maintain accounting records in compliance with law society rules
- Failing to adequately supervise his staff
- Making false representations to the law society in his annual trust report
No clients were harmed as a result of the misconduct, according to the consent agreement, and all of the misappropriated funds were corrected or replaced.
In addition to his two-month suspension, Doroshenko must complete five hours of continuing professional development credits by Dec. 31. These credits are in addition to the 12.5 hours normally required of all lawyers in B.C.
Doroshenko's suspension begins on June 21.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Person on fire outside Trump's hush money trial rushed away on a stretcher
A person who was on fire in a park outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump’s hush money trial is taking place has been rushed away on a stretcher.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
Senators reject field trip to African Lion Safari amid elephant bill study
The Senate legal affairs committee has rejected a motion calling for members to take a $50,000 field trip to the African Lion Safari in southern Ontario to see the zoo's elephant exhibit.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Police in Paris detain a man wearing fake explosives vest at Iran's Consulate
A man wearing a fake explosive vest and making threats was detained Friday outside the Iranian Consulate in Paris after police locked down the area, authorities said. His motive was unclear.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.
CFIA monitoring for avian flu in Canadian dairy cattle after U.S. discoveries
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is encouraging veterinarians to keep an eye out for signs of avian influenza in dairy cattle following recent discoveries of cases of the disease in U.S. cow herds.
After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.