Legal Ethics
Canadian Senator, a Lawyer, Investigated for Alleged Overbilling
Posted Jan 23, 2008, 05:34 am CST
By Debra Cassens Weiss
A Canadian senator representing British Columbia is under investigation for allegedly overbilling one of her legal clients, a Catholic missionary order.
In one instance Sen. Mobina Jaffer is suspected of charging for 30 hours of work in a single day, CBC News reports. The Law Society of British Columbia is conducting the investigation into more than $6 million in legal bills to the order.
The Oblates of Mary Immaculate had hired Jaffer and her son to defend it against claims of abuse in residential schools. The order fired the Jaffers and sued them for alleged overbilling, resulting in a confidential settlement.