Other names: Helfrich, Marvin
Madam Justice Gerow found Michael Helfrich, also known as Marvin Helfrich, of North Vancouver, in contempt for having engaged in the practice of law contrary to a 2013 injunction order. Helfrich, who is a former lawyer from Oregon, admitted to having appeared as an advocate in court, negotiated the settlement of a claim for damages, drafted pleadings and documents for a bankruptcy proceeding and gave procedural and substantive legal advice to third parties contrary to the injunction. Pursuant the order, Helfrich must pay a $5,000 fine and perform 100 hours of community work service in a field not related to law or accounting. Helfrich must also pay $5,500 in restitution to a person for whom he provided legal services and must pay the Law Society $6,500 in costs. The court also expanded the 2013 injunction to prohibit Helfrich from performing any activities that constitute the practice of law regardless of whether he charges a fee, including assisting with corporate documents, and also from representing himself as a lawyer or in any other manner that connotes that he is qualified or entitled to practise law. Helfrich is also prohibited from commencing, prosecuting or defending a proceeding in any court, unless he is representing himself in the proceeding, acting without counsel solely on his own behalf. (May 9, 2016)
Related document:
2016-05-09-Helfrich-contempt.pdf
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For background information on unauthorized practice, visit What is Unauthorized Practice?
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