Law Society of Saskatchewan Discipline Update: Mervin Phillips

January 17, 2019

A penalty decision has been released in relation to the matter of Law Society of Saskatchewan v Phillips. The following allegations were proven in an earlier phase of the hearing process:

1. did fail to be frank and candid with S.H. in relation to the anticipated costs of S.H.’s legal matter;

2. did fail to serve his client, S.H., in a conscientious, diligent and efficient manner as follows:

a) he spent time unnecessarily in connection with issues S.H. had instructed him to abandon; and

b) he required S.H. to make unnecessary and excessive personal attendances at his office;

3. did charge a fee to S.H. that was not fully disclosed, fair and reasonable.

The following penalty was imposed by the Hearing Committee:

(a) The Member be suspended for a period of thirty days with the period of suspension to commence on a date as agreed between Counsel for the Conduct Investigation Committee and Counsel for the Member but such period of suspension to commence no later than July 1, 2019;

(b) The Member to pay costs in the sum of $13,986.84 to the Law Society of Saskatchewan on or before July 1, 2019 failing which an additional suspension from practice will be imposed until full payment has been made.

For more information on the Law Society of Saskatchewan discipline proceedings, please visit the Hearings, Decisions and Outcomes section of the Law Society of Saskatchewan website.