Court monitor finds 'no concerns' about Kenora, Ont., lawyer Doug Keshen; complaint hearings continue

The Law Society of Upper Canada will continue its hearings into a Kenora, Ont.,lawyer's dealings with residential school survivors into the new year.

Doug Keshen is facing allegations that he violated the Law Society of Upper Canada's guidelines for lawyers acting in residential school cases.

The Law Society of Upper Canadareceived complaints that Keshenarrangedhigh-interest loans for clients, secured against anticipated residential schoolsettlement funds,which is prohibited by the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement.

Keshendenies that he violated the guidelines.

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A Superior Court ruling in July revealed that a Court Monitorhad "no concerns" about Keshen's competency.

The Monitor's "investigation revealed that the clients had received their full awards and that Mr.Keshenhad not received any personal benefit with respect to the loan advances he made or that third party lenders had made. Rather, Mr.Keshenlost money, several thousand dollars, because he simply forgave some of his loans to his clients," Justice J. Perell wrote in his decision.

The court ruling dealt with who should pay for theinvestigation of Keshen's case. Canada wanted Keshen to pay for the investigation. Keshenargued he should not pay.

The court ruled there would be no payment of costs to either party.

'Stain of allegations'

Keshenalso sought acourt order that would release a public statement "clearing the stain of the allegations of wrongdoing."

"Thecourt is not in the public relations business, and it will be up to the reader of these Reasons for Decision to make their own decision about theKeshenAffair," Justice Perell wrote. "I would anticipate that these Reasons will go some distance in removing the stain on his reputation but that is a by-product and not the purpose of these Reasons for Decision."

Perell also noted that the ruling could not resolve the debate around whether Keshen had violated his professional obligations to the Law Society.

Its hearings into Keshen's conduct began in June. Hearings scheduled for this week were "vacated," according to a spokesperson for the Law Society.

Proceedings will resume Oct. 14-20 in Kenora, with additional dates booked in 2017.