David Yu-Hsiang Chen

Findings — machine-extracted (anthropic-batch:claude-opus-4-8); verify against the decision

David Y. Chen, a Vancouver lawyer called in 2014, entered a Rule 3-7.1 consent agreement admitting professional misconduct for making a false/misleading representation to opposing counsel (falsely stating his client had deposited $20,000 in trust) and for drafting and commissioning an affidavit containing false statements about when his client learned of court proceedings and retained counsel. He also admitted a breach of the cash rule (Rule 3-59(5)) by refunding $1,868.47 by cheque rather than cash after receiving $8,000 in cash. He knew the representations were false, but the tribunal did not expressly characterise his conduct as dishonest. He agreed to a two-week suspension and a meeting with a Bencher. No fine or costs were stated.

Duties found breached:

• No baseless or threatened misconduct report
• No improper use of client money

Mitigating factors:

• Junior lawyer (four-year call) at the time of misconduct
• Admitted misconduct and cooperated with the Law Society's investigation
• Remorseful and undertook not to repeat the conduct
• No prior professional conduct record