22 LEXPERT
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2018
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WWW.LEXPERT.CA
THE SUPREME COURT HAS BROUGHT
AN END TO A LENGTHY CASE ON INCIVILITY,
SENDING SEVERAL CLEAR MESSAGES
TO THE LEGAL PROFESSION
By Paul McLaughlin
On June 1, 2018, the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC)
brought a lengthy and expensive case on incivility involving
the Law Society of Ontario (LSO) and prominent Toronto
defence lawyer Joseph Groia, a Principal of Groia & Com-
pany Professional Corporation, to a final conclusion when
it declared that previous findings of professional misconduct
against him were "unreasonable."
Although the matter focused on Groia's behaviour in a
criminal trial that took place in the early 2000s, the SCC's de-
cision "was an important ruling for the profession," says Earl
Cherniak of Lerners LLP in Toronto, who represented Groia.
"at's something I almost never say about a ruling but, in
this case, I believe it applies. I think the Bar in general is going
to take significant heart and confidence from what [Justice
A Matter
of Civility
PHOTO:
SHUTTERSTOCK
COURTROOM CIVILITY
