Gordon Wayne Ruley

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

Gordon Wayne Ruley, a BC lawyer called in 1983, entered a Rule 3-7.1 consent agreement admitting professional misconduct in his handling of a client's estate while acting as executor and trustee. He improperly withdrew legal fees he was not entitled to, inadvertently used the estate debit card for personal purchases, issued a deficient statement of account, withdrew his $273,449.70 executor's fee without all beneficiaries' consent or a court order, and failed to provide competent service (failing to account for funds, obtaining consent for distribution, maintaining trust funds, submitting farm classification info, and paying the estate's Speculation and Vacancy Tax). No dishonesty was found; the misconduct was characterized as inadvertent. He agreed to a ten-week suspension commencing October 27, 2025.

Duties found breached:

• No improper benefit, loan or bequest
• No improper use of client money

Aggravating factors:

• Professional conduct record consisting of three conduct reviews in 2011, 2013, and 2017

Mitigating factors:

• Admitted misconduct and cooperated with the Law Society's investigation
• Misconduct occurred primarily due to inadvertent errors and lack of attention rather than intentional misfeasance
• Remorseful and agreed to repay the Estate $3,898.12 upon receipt of executor's fee