The applicant's solicitor of record brought a motion to be removed from the record prior to a pre-hearing in a statutory accident benefits arbitration.
The applicant opposed the removal.
The arbitrator found that the solicitor-client relationship had broken down and granted the motion to remove the solicitor.
The arbitrator ordered the solicitor to release the client's file forthwith to avoid prejudice to the applicant, noting that the tribunal lacks jurisdiction to make charging orders to protect the solicitor's unpaid account, which is governed by the Solicitors Act.
The solicitor's potential responsibility for costs under the Insurance Act remained open.
