A North Vancouver lawyer has been handed a 30-day suspension along with a $19,000 fine for mishandling one of his client’s cases.
Ronald Wayne Perrick was sanctioned by a hearing panel from The Law Society of B.C. Sept. 8 for committing “professional misconduct” – an offence Perrick was also disciplined for last year.
In the latter misconduct case, described as being of “grave concern” to the panel, Perrick was found to have backdated corporate share transactions – to a date prior to the death of his clients’ parents – to ensure a multi-million-dollar real-estate deal went through. Perrick was fined $25,000 in that hearing panel decision.
The recent legal action taken against Perrick dates back to 2002 and 2004 when he was representing a client who had been involved in two motor vehicle accidents.
The hearing panel found a laundry list of responsibilities Perrick failed to deliver to his client including providing her with important documents or correspondence relating to the case. Perrick also didn’t tell his client about a scheduled mediation date or provide her with a copy of a formal settlement offer.
Perrick’s actions resulted in his client not receiving materials from the opposing counsel seeking to dismiss her claims. Over a 26-month period Perrick failed entirely to respond to eight letters from the opposing counsel.
The panel concluded Perrick “did little, if anything” to advance his client’s case to a settlement or trial stage, resulting in his client later launching a negligence suit against him.
When imposing Perrick’s punishment, the hearing panel considered many factors including his “serious prior conduct record” and whether or not Perrick has acknowledged his mistakes.
While Perrick did admit to committing professional misconduct, he only did so on the last day of the Facts and Determination hearing in the case. Perrick’s explanation for his actions was that he was preoccupied with other matters.
Perrick, who represented himself during the hearing, suggested he receive a $15,000 fine. The panel disagreed. “Fines should not become a cost of doing business,” reads an excerpt from the panel’s decision that indicated a need for deterrence in this case.
Perrick was ordered to pay the law society $19,315.81 in costs. His 30-day suspension, meanwhile, will take effect on Dec. 1.
Perrick has been practising law in North Vancouver for 30 years.
