Roy Swartzberg

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

Roy Swartzberg, a BC sole practitioner in family law, admitted 12 allegations of professional misconduct involving four/five clients. Over several years he repeatedly deceived clients by inventing court hearings, a summary trial decision, protection orders, appeals and an Alberta variance order, fabricating a court order and false court file numbers, failing to advance their matters, and misleading opposing/new counsel. He also improperly loaned money to a client and accepted ~$10,000 in rings from a will/POA client, both without independent legal advice. On June 5, 2019 the Discipline Committee accepted his Rule 4-29 admission and a 7-year undertaking not to practise law or seek re-admission, making him a person who ceased to be a member due to disciplinary proceedings. No fine or costs were specified in the decision.

Duties found breached:

• No improper communication with the court
• Comply with and respect court orders
• Not mislead third parties or opponents
• Keep client informed and respond promptly
• No improper benefit, loan or bequest
• No improper use of client money
• No baseless or threatened misconduct report

Aggravating factors:

• Misconduct spanned multiple clients (DD, AB, CJ, ES, CL) over several years
• Sustained, elaborate and repeated deception, including fabricated documents
• Exploitation of a vulnerable client (DD and child who had suffered domestic abuse)
• Continued misrepresentations even to other lawyers and during Law Society processes

Mitigating factors:

• No prior professional conduct record
• Admission of misconduct and cooperation via Rule 4-29 undertaking
• Letter from clinical psychologist submitted in mitigation
• Returned the rings to Client CL and returned the $10,000 loan context; ceased practising since July 2016

⚠ figures not found verbatim in the source were dropped: ["unverified_suspension_months=84"]