Local lawyer Adam Rodgers has been found guilty of one charge professional misconduct by a
Nova Scotia Barristers Society disciplinary panel. The charge stems from the collapse of his law firm, Boudrot-Rodgers in Port Hawkesbury in 2018.
Rodgers alleged his partner Jason Boudrot misappropriated money from trust funds belonging to clients of their firm. Boudrot later reached a settlement agreement with the Society and agreed to be disbarred. Boudrot did not admit guilt.
Rodgers had faced three charges of professional misconduct and incompetence from the society. The society says he should have noticed what his partner was doing and stopped it. The panel found two of the more serious charges against Rodgers were not supported.
The panel says Rodgers did not deliberately nor actively misappropriate funds or assist Boudrot in doing so. The panel added it is satisfied the society has demonstrated it is more probably than not that Rodgers aided Boudrot through his willful blindness and recklessness and thereby failed to preserve and protect clients’ property. The disciplinary panel must meet within 60 days to determine what penalty Rodgers should receive