An interlocutory suspension/restriction hearing for a Quinte area lawyer is expected to continue in January 2025.
The Law Society Tribunal held a hearing on Thursday between the Law Society of Ontario (LSO) and Gregory Edward Brant Castellano, a family lawyer who serves the Quinte region as well as the Kingston area.
The LSO is looking at suspending and/or restricting the license of Castellano, saying there are reasonable grounds that Castellano is “a significant risk of harm to members of the public.”
In a notice of motion, Castellano is said to be the subject of seven investigations, all in 2024, where professional misconduct is alleged. It is also claimed that he had not been fully cooperating with all of the investigations of LSO.
Other claims made by LSO note that they are investigating Castellano for failing to report criminal charges of “drugging and sexually assaulting a member of the public” to the Law Society as well as not maintaining books and records in compliance with financial requirements.
Castellano is also alleged to have practiced law during periods in which his license was suspended in the last three calendar years and billed for work during periods in which his license was suspended.
The full grounds of the motion were brought forward during cross examination of Castellano, who represented himself in the hearing with assistance of duty counsel.
Attorney Shannon McDunnough questioned Castellano if he had informed officers of client/solicitor privilege regarding some documents after his laptop and hard drive was seized in the criminal investigation.
Castellano said he had informed officers that both contained “the entirety of my law practice” but did not assert client/solicitor privilege over the contents of each device.
McDunnough also inquired about reporting the criminal charges to the law society. Castellano said that he was not aware that he had to report his criminal charges to LSO, and when he learned he had to, had difficulty dealing with the issue do the stress of the situation and not being able to retain counsel.
Regarding the grounds of not maintaining books and records in compliance with financial requirements, Castellano said that he had difficulty with maintaining records that happened before the date of seizure.
Final submissions from both the LSO and Castellano are expected to be provided at the January 3, 2025 hearing.
None of the allegations have been proven in court.
