I have just received a warning!!
This potentially affects anyone who:
- are not paid to date on their Geldert retainers
- selected option 2
- parted ways with Geldert
- did not submit the SIF at all
Michael has initiated
Withdrawal of Services on individual statement of claims as early as the beginning of December and is not properly notifying clients he has done so.
The individual reached out to the Edmonton Court House in order to start to put their own legal affairs in order and learned of this action.
Also missed in the filing was there was no Dispute Notice of Interest and Costs submitted which left the individual very financially vulnerable.
The paperwork filed was also done incorrectly so the address on record was not given correctly to be entered so anything being served to the individual would be going to the wrong place.
Document everything for your complaint to the Law Society. This is a clear violation of the Professional Code of Conduct.
This is very significant and had the individual not checked they may have never known about the filing and address error. As a result of not receiving this notice and it being filed improperly by Michael or his representatives from Strathcona Law Group they would not have received important documents related to their on-going legal matters with Northmont. In this case documents could have been filed such as a Judgement against them to allow Northmont to seek restitution without dispute and they would have never known.
If you have parted ways with Michael or he has parted ways with you, he should be notifying you as to the steps related to the Withdrawal of Service but you may want to check yourself with your local Court House where the Statement of Claim was filed to ensure your proper address is on file and to verify what has been filed.