National

'Vexatious Litigant' Charles Bryfogle Banned From Entering Any Courthouse In British Columbia

The Canadian Press, 15 Jun, 2015 11:40 AM

KAMLOOPS, B.C. — A 74-year-old man who wrongfully acted as a lawyer and created legal documents has been banned from entering any courthouse in British Columbia.

Charles Bryfogle has been found guilty on eight counts of being in contempt of court and is forbidden from filing legal documents on behalf of himself or others.

The ruling in B.C. Supreme Court in Kamloops came after a legal action by the province's regulator for lawyers.

The B.C. Law Society wanted to see Bryfogle go to jail for 21 days, but Justice Victoria Gray handed him a three-year suspended sentence and said he will jailed if he breaches his probation terms.

Brydogle has been declared a "vexatious litigant" in both B.C. and Arizona. The term applies to people who consistently engage in court actions that harass people or undermine the justice system.

Gray called Bryfogle's conduct troubling.

“Mr. Bryfogle is not a lawyer and has never been a lawyer,” she wrote in a decision released Friday.

Court records show Bryfogle's legal misadventures have included representing litigants in a case involving mercury poisoning from dental work, creating a trust document, and slander and defamation against his own family.

At times he has been paid for his work. He breached previous terms of orders requiring him to inform the B.C. Law Society of any legal action.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Canadian home sales slow in December, prices still up from a year earlier: CREA

OTTAWA — There were fewer home resales in Canada last month, with Calgary and Edmonton showing the biggest declines.

Canadian home sales slow in December, prices still up from a year earlier: CREA

Target Corp. checks out of Canada with plans to wind down 133 stores

TORONTO — Less than two years after Target Corp. threw open the doors of its first Canadian stores with grand expectations , the discount retailer is retreating back to the United States in defeat.

Target Corp. checks out of Canada with plans to wind down 133 stores

BlackBerry shares half of recent gain from report of takeover approach by Samsung

TORONTO — BlackBerry (TSX:BB) shares have given back a little over half of the spectacular gains that they made late Wednesday after a news report said the Canadian smartphone company had been approached by South Korean rival Samsung with a takeover offer.

BlackBerry shares half of recent gain from report of takeover approach by Samsung

Bombardier stock plunges in heavy trading amid revised Aerospace outlook

MONTREAL — Bombardier stock plunged in heavy trading Thursday following a revised outlook for its aerospace business, including plans to put development of the Learjet 85 business jet on hold due to weak customer interest — a move that will result in the elimination of 1,000 jobs in the United States and Mexico.

Bombardier stock plunges in heavy trading amid revised Aerospace outlook

Ottawa still plans to balance budget, fulfil commitments, despite cheap oil

VANCOVUER, B.C. — Federal Finance Minister Joe Oliver says the government still plans to balance the budget and keep its commitments despite the collapse of oil prices.