Overwhelmed Young Lawyer's 'Solution': Phantom Cases
Overwhelmed by the work involved in a high-profile 18-month trial and taking on too many other matters, a Toronto lawyer couldn’t bring himself to admit the problem and ask for help.
Instead, Jonathan Wade Strug, 35, somehow began to claim that he had done work—including filing lawsuits—that he hadn’t actually performed, reports Law Times. As a result, his license to practice was terminated last week by a Law Society of Upper Canada hearing panel. Strug had made a name for himself battling the Ontario government in court over therapy payments for autistic children.
The situation, which may be a first in Canada, came to light when a client complained to the media about a defendant’s failure to comply with court orders, the legal publication recounts. In fact, there were no court orders, because Strug had never pursued the case. He reportedly was able to get away with the deception, for a time, because he kept work documents on his personal laptop computer, where they weren’t accessible to other lawyers at his law firm, in violation of the firm’s policy.
“In my opinion, Jonathan’s actions were unconsciously driven, self-defeating acts perpetrated by him at a time when he was severely depressed, emotionally exhausted, and professionally burned out,” a report by a psychiatrist states. “This was consequent to a one and a half year trial that had him working seven days a week and at times up to 22 hours a day.”
Strug, who is now working as a laborer in a warehouse, didn’t attend last week’s hearing but apologized in a written statement.
Two civil cases filed by Strug’s former clients against him and his former law firm are ongoing.
Additional coverage:
Toronto Sun: “Young lawyer’s meltdown”
