Lawyer found to have committed professional misconduct for abusive communications and abruptly abandoning client.
The applicant alleged that the respondent licensee engaged in professional misconduct while representing a mother in a family law matter.
The licensee sent abusive, offensive, and unprofessional emails to opposing counsel, which included profanities and unfounded accusations.
Furthermore, the licensee abruptly terminated his representation of the client mere hours before an urgent motion, failing to provide reasonable notice or assistance.
The Law Society Tribunal found that the licensee's communications violated the Rules of Professional Conduct and that he failed to serve his client to the standard of a competent lawyer.
The allegations of professional misconduct were proven.
