Complaint against LSS referred/funded lawyer, Chester Bridal [Patrick Fox; Legal Aid BC]
PDF1451 Kingsway Ave
Port Coquitlam, BC
V3C 1S2
Legal Service Society
510 Burrard St, Suite 400
Vancouver, BC V6C 3A8
LSS Case No.: SR003267161
Dear Sir/Miss:
I wish to lodge a formal complaint against Chester Bridal, who represented me briefly from March 2020 to May 2020, on a number of matters. Mr. Bridal was referred to me by LSS and was funded by LSS under the referenced LSS case number.
The relevant background information can be found in my LSS file, but of particular interest should be my letter dated 2020-05-30. That letter includes a list of the factors contributing to my termination of Mr. Bridal's representation.
Further to the host of issues I detailed in my 2020-05-30 letter, what I am complaining about, specifically, at this time, is Mr. Bridal's continued refusal to return my original document as I have repeatedly requested of him (see item 9 in my 2020-05-30 letter).
On 2020-04-30 I sent Mr. Bridal a letter and included the document with that letter. On the second page of that letter I stated:
And finally, with respect to the enclosed document, I ask that you please make a copy for your records and return the original to me at your earliest opportunity.
I received absolutely no response from Mr. Bridal.
Then, on 2020-05-22, having still not heard anything from Mr. Bridal regarding the document, I sent him another letter, stating:
On 2020-04-03 I sent you a letter accompanied by a 13 page document detailing what I believe is the court's significant error of law regarding the immigration laws and the burdens of proof at a port of entry. In the last paragraph, of the second page of my letter, I asked you to please make a copy of that 13 page document and return the original to me at your earliest opportunity.
It has now been a month and a half and you have still not returned the document to me. So, at this point, I must insist that you return my document to me immediately.
Again, I received absolutely no response from Mr. Bridal.
It has now been almost four months and I have not heard anything from Mr. Bridal regarding my document or it's return. I find that completely unacceptable!
If you wish, I have a copy of all of my correspondence with Mr. Bridal over the past few months, and I am happy to provide it to you if it will help.
I thank you for your assistance.Patrick Fox
Audit and Investigation
Suite 400
510 Burrard Street
Vancouver BC V6C 3A8
@legalaidbc
PRIVATE & CONFIDENTIAL
Barrister and Solicitor
401 - 73 Water Street
Vancouver, BC V6B 1A1
Dear Mr. Bridal:
Client: Patrick Fox - Legal Aid Contract# R030209987
As you may already be aware, Legal Aid BC ("LABC") operates an Audit and Investigation Department that has the responsibility, among others, of investigating complaints about lawyers with whom we contract to represent legal aid clients. As you are aware from my telephone call with you on August 5, 2020, we have received a complaint about you from your former client, Patrick Fox which we enclose.
Mr. Fox has raised a number of issues about your representation with Intake which he sent us. But be has made one complaint to us that you have failed to return the 13 paged document he sent to you on April 3, 2020. Please provide the document and an explanation as to why you have not returned the said document to the client.
I look forward to receiving your written response to the complaint. I will diarize this matter for September 8, 2020. If you have any questions about this letter, or LABC's complaint process, you can contact me at 604-601-6034.
Gayle MyersStaff Lawyer
Audit & Investigation Department
Tel: 604-601-6034
complaints@legalaid.bc.ca
Atachments (2)
Suite 400
510 Burrard Street
Vancouver BC V6C 3A8
@legalaidbc
PRIVATE & CONFIDENTIAL
c/o North Fraser Pretrial Centre
1451 Kingsway Avenue
Port Coquitlam, BC V3C 1S2
Dear Mr. Fox:
Your Legal Aid Contract # R030209987
Legal Aid BC operates an Audit and Investigation Department that has the responsibility, among others, of investigating complaints about the private bar lawyers with whom we contract to represent legal aid clients. I am the staff lawyer who deals with these complaints.
We confirm receipt of your complaint letter dated July 22, 2020. We have contacted Mr. Bridal and have asked him to respond to our inquiry as to where your document is (please see attached).
We advise that we found a document regarding your appeal in our file management system, which we enclose and may be the one that was not returned to you.
Once we hear from Mr. Bridal, we will be in contact with you.
Gayle MyersStaff Lawyer
Audit & Investigation Department
Tel: 604-601-6034
complaints@legalaid.bc.ca
Attachments (2)