Conflict of Interest

Removal of Lawyer Refused

Jiwani v Jiwani @022 BCCA 451 refused to remove a lawyer for a potential conflict of interest stating that the role of the lawyer was not the basis of the

Lawyer Disqualified From Acting

Re Waigel Estate 2022 BCSC 2274 examined a lawyers role in acting for a client and found cause to disqualify the lawyer from continuing to act. The leading decision is
Executor Ordered to Produce Deceased's Medical Records

Executor Ordered to Produce Deceased’s Medical Records

An Alberta case Petrowski v Petrowski 2005 ABQB ordered the executor to produce medical records of the deceased pointing to her obvious conflict of interest in having the exclusive authority
Removal of a Committee or Litigation Guardian

Removal of a Committee or Litigation Guardian

The applicable case law and test for the appointment and removal of committee or litigation guardian of a patient’s estate is the Supreme Court of Canada decision of Gronnerud v
Disqualifying a Lawyer for Conflict of Interest

Conflict of Interest: Disqualifying a Lawyer

Stewart v Stewart 2016 BCSC 2256 dismissed an application to have an acting lawyer disqualified as counsel for having a conflict of interest. The court set out the criteria for
Trustee Cannot Be in Conflict With Duty

Trustee Cannot Be in Conflict With Duty

Equity will not allow a person who is in a position of trust to carry out a transaction where there is a conflict between his or her duty and his
Removal of Executor/Trustee For Conflict of Interest

Removal of Executor/Trustee For Conflict of Interest

As a BC estate lawyer, I am often asked to remove an executor/trustee. Re Ching 2016 BCSC 1111 is one of several cases where the courts have indicated their reluctance
Ensuring Independent Legal Advice

Ensuring Independent Legal Advice

Many transactions are set aside in British Columbia by the courts on the basis that true independent legal advice was not obtained by the person making a radically changed will
Independent Legal Advice

Independent Legal Advice – 7 Factors to Look For

I am typically attempting to set aside a transaction or a will and I often look to see if there was independent legal advice (ILA) given and if so, was
Passing Over an Executor

Passing Over an Executor

Passing over an executor utilizes essentially the same legal criteria as removing an executor except it occurs before the named executor starts to act in the representative capacity. Re Thommasson Estate