The Law Society was ordered to pay the former lawyer thousands
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The case against a former Christchurch lawyer is highly unusual, the New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal said.
As a result, the tribunal dismissed the case against Susan Barbara Lewis, the New Zealand Law Society said. The tribunal found the Lawyers Standards Committee relied on evidence from the two witnesses but the evidence was “so unreliable and unsafe that…there was no case to answer.”
The Law Society was ordered to pay Lewis $5,495 in costs. It was also ordered to pay hearing costs of $10,240.
In 2015, Lewis was suspended from practice as both a barrister and a solicitor for six months after being found guilty of unsatisfactory conduct in Family Court proceedings. She filed an erroneous memorandum that dealt with parenting arrangements for a child, which resulted in a court order to be later rescinded, the tribunal said then.
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As a result, the tribunal dismissed the case against Susan Barbara Lewis, the New Zealand Law Society said. The tribunal found the Lawyers Standards Committee relied on evidence from the two witnesses but the evidence was “so unreliable and unsafe that…there was no case to answer.”
The Law Society was ordered to pay Lewis $5,495 in costs. It was also ordered to pay hearing costs of $10,240.
In 2015, Lewis was suspended from practice as both a barrister and a solicitor for six months after being found guilty of unsatisfactory conduct in Family Court proceedings. She filed an erroneous memorandum that dealt with parenting arrangements for a child, which resulted in a court order to be later rescinded, the tribunal said then.
Related stories:
Law firm’s ex-credit controller fined over misappropriated funds
Whangarei lawyer ordered to pay $25,655 in costs
