Complaints lead to retirement of Miramichi lawyer

Affidavit reveals complaints were lodged against Miramichi lawyer in 2017, and after a disciplinary hearing the lawyer applied to become retired. A custodian of his practice has been appointed.

In March, the Law Society of New Brunswick published that it had imposed restrictions on the law practice of Miramichi lawyer Harvey Urquhart, and that it was subject to supervision.  No further information on the status of Urqhart’s practice or the complaints that were filed against him have been published on the Law Society of NB’s website since March 27, 2018.

In June, the Miramichi Leader ran an advertisement informing the public that Dan Jardine, another Miramichi lawyer, was now the custodian of Urquhart’s practice.

Miramichi Online has obtained court documents, including an affidavit from Shirley C. MacLean Q.C., the Registrar of Complaints at the Law Society of NB, outlining the process by which the Society took steps to appoint a custodian of Urquhart’s practice.  The affidavit says:

• Urquhart had been a lawyer since 1993

• Complaints against Urquhart were forwarded to the Society's Disciplinary Committee in December 2017.  A hearing was held in February.

• In March, sanctions against Urquhart’s practice were put in place an publicized on the Society’s website.

• On May 23rd, 2018, Urquhart applied to  the Society to become a retired member of the Society

• Shortly after, Urquhart consented to his retirement from law and consented that Jardine would be appointed as custodian.

Miramichi Online contacted the Law Society of New Brunswick to inquire if the nature of the complaints against Urquhart and the findings of the Disciplinary Committee would be updated on the Society’s web page regarding history of disciplines.  No response from the Law Society was received.