https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/discipline-hearing-adjourned-for-fredericton-lawyer-9.6990830
Discipline hearing adjourned for Fredericton lawyer facing misconduct allegations
Stephen James Hill was suspended in February over multiple complaints of mishandling client’s funds
A four day discipline hearing for suspended Fredericton lawyer Stephen James Hill, over multiple complaints of misconduct and misappropriated funds, has been adjourned until further notice.
Hill was suspended by the New Brunswick Law Society in February, pending a decision by a panel of the discipline committee. The hearing was scheduled for Nov. 25-28, but the day before it was set to begin, the matter was adjourned.
A notice on the New Brunswick Law Society’s website from Joleen Dable, Registrar of Complaints, said a "further Notice of Hearing will be available on the Law Society website once a new date has been determined.”
The Registrar found Hill failed to respond to complaints, failed to cooperate in the investigations, and failed to respond to communications from the Law Society.
Misappropriation of client funds
One complaint dating back to December 2016, said Hill failed to deposit retainers in his Trust Account and account for all deposits received. According to the notice of complaint, he also failed to respond to requests for detailed invoices and Statements of Account for legal work reportedly completed by him.
Another complaint for work done in August 2022, said Hill misrepresented the status of a Small Business Investor Tax Credit application, which was never filed, while providing his client with various assurances and excuses. It was later confirmed with the Finance Department that no application existed.
There were also several other complaints that said Hill mishandled client’s funds, by failing to pay off client’s mortgages.
In one case, that resulted in a judgement against the client and potential seizure and sale of their property. In another, the client received notice that their property would be auctioned due to the unpaid mortgage.
Another complaint said Hill held back the proceeds of a property sale by paying his client in installments over several months.
Many of those clients were eventually repaid through the Law Society Compensation Fund.
Hill is also the subject of a civil lawsuit brought on by Kingswood golf-course owner, Brian Johnson, who alleged the lawyer cost him millions through negligence, deceit and the mishandling of funds during construction of the Radisson Kingswood Hotel & Suites in Hanwell, just outside Fredericton.
Fredericton Police Force spokesperson Sonya Gilks confirmed there are also two active fraud investigations underway into Hill, but she wouldn’t elaborate on the nature of the complaints.
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