Present: Dickson C.J. and McIntyre, Lamer, Wilson, La Forest, L'Heureux‑Dubé and Sopinka JJ.
on appeal from the court of appeal for alberta
Barristers and solicitors ‑‑ Compensation fund ‑‑ Client claiming compensation after being defrauded by lawyer ‑‑ Whether Law Society has discretion to deny in toto a claim when claimant has met the statutory prerequisites ‑‑ Mandamus.
Held (Lamer and La Forest JJ. dissenting): The appeal should be allowed.
APPEAL from a judgment of the Alberta Court of Appeal (1984), 35 Alta. L.R. (2d) 259, 58 A.R. 94, 16 D.L.R. (4th) 22, [1985] 2 W.W.R. 549, 10 Admin. L.R. 117, allowing the appeal of the Law Society of Alberta from a judgment of Bracco J. (1983), 29 Alta. L.R. (2d) 251, 50 A.R. 386, 5 D.L.R. (4th) 592, [1984] 2 W.W.R. 530, 7 Admin. L.R. 37, 41 C.P.C. 279, granting an order of mandamus against the Benchers of the Law Society of Alberta. Appeal allowed, Lamer and La Forest JJ. dissenting.
Nestor Makuch, for the appellant.
Peter M. Owen, Q.C., and Dan Carroll, for the respondent.
The following is the judgment delivered orally by
1. The Chief Justice‑‑The Court is ready to deliver judgment, and judgment will be delivered by my brother Lamer J.
2. Lamer J.‑‑The majority of the Court is in substantial agreement with the reasons of Bracco J., would allow the appeal with costs and restore his order in the nature of mandamus.
3. Justice Lamer and Justice La Forest, dissenting, are in substantial agreement with the reasons of the Court of Appeal of Alberta and would dismiss this appeal without costs.
4. The appeal is accordingly allowed with costs, and Bracco J.'s order is restored, Justices Lamer and La Forest, dissenting.
Appeal allowed with costs, Lamer and La Forest JJ. dissenting.
Solicitors for the appellant: Wheatley Sadownik, Edmonton.
Solicitors for the respondent: Field & Field, Edmonton.
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