Paul Christopher Doroshenko

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

Paul Christopher Doroshenko, KC entered a Rule 3-7.1 consent agreement, admitting professional misconduct for failing to act with courtesy, civility and good faith toward his former articling student, M.O., by advancing unfounded allegations against her loyalty, truthfulness and competence in a Notice of Civil Claim. Civil courts found M.O. was wrongfully dismissed and subjected to bullying, bad faith conduct, awarding her significant damages. The Lawyer agreed to pay a $15,000 fine and complete EDI courses. No express finding of dishonesty was made by the Discipline Committee.

Duties found breached:

• Good faith and courtesy to colleagues
• No baseless or threatened misconduct report

Aggravating factors:

• Prior professional conduct record including a 2021 consent agreement (two-month suspension) for trust accounting breaches and a 2021 Conduct Review
• Conduct found by courts to be unfair, bullying and in bad faith toward articling student M.O.
• Allegations advanced against the articling student regarding her loyalty, truthfulness, and competence were determined unfounded

Mitigating factors:

• Lawyer retained and relied on the advice of experienced trial counsel
• Lawyer held an honest belief that privileged and sensitive materials were improperly retained by M.O.
• Certain exculpatory evidence (affidavit of service, Credentials Decision findings) was not before the courts
• Lawyer admitted his conduct was unduly insensitive and ill-advised and expressed he would handle matters differently