Lawyer Kevin McLean is suing the Law Society of British Columbia (LSBC) over an allegedly defamatory “campaign of malicious public attacks” against him.
McLean filed a notice of civil claim in BC Supreme Court July 18 against the law society, staff lawyers Alison Kirby, John Nallewag, Erin Berger and Howie Caldwell, investigator Larry Dirk, securities lawyer Stephen O’Neill
and magazine editor Dadhmehr Naimi.
McLean claims he has filed complaints with the Law Society against Kirby and Nallewag for allegedly defaming him with false accusations that he broke the society’s rules and mishandled files. He claims that he spent 38 hours printing out emails related to files during a compliance audit after being threatened with suspension, despite co-operating, and claims the society “deliberately attempted to embarrass” him during a forensic audit, claiming it allegedly sent its “gestapo investigators” to his office without explanation, according to the claim.
Moreover, he claims investigator Larry Dirk “violently” grabbed him after a hearing and allegedly shouted and stalked him down the street while McLean “sprinted from the LSBC while fearful for his safety.”
He seeks damages for abuse of process, libel, slander, intentional infliction of emotional distress and assault and battery. The allegations have not been proven in court and the defendants had not filed a response by press time.
