## fredericton Lawyer’s Discipline Hearing Postponed Amidst Misconduct Allegations
A disciplinary hearing for Fredericton lawyer Stephen James Hill, facing multiple complaints of professional misconduct and misappropriation of funds, has been adjourned indefinitely. The hearing was originally scheduled to take place from November 25-28, but was postponed the day before it was set to begin.The New Brunswick Law Society suspended hill in February, pending a decision from its discipline committee. A notice posted on the Law Society’s website by Registrar of Complaints, Joleen Dable, states that a new hearing date will be announced on the website once determined.The Law Society previously published a nine-page notice of complaint detailing over a dozen allegations of professional misconduct. These include failures to complete legal work, disregard client instructions, and the alleged misappropriation of client funds.
The Registrar’s findings also indicate Hill failed to respond to complaints, cooperate with investigations, and communicate with the Law Society.
Specific complaints detail instances where Hill allegedly failed to deposit retainers into his Trust Account and provide accounting for received funds.In one case from December 2016, he reportedly did not respond to requests for detailed invoices and Statements of Account.
Another complaint, stemming from August 2022, alleges Hill falsely represented the status of a Small Business Investor Tax Credit request – which was never actually filed – and provided misleading assurances to a client. Confirmation from the Finance Department revealed no such application existed.
Several complaints also accuse Hill of mishandling client funds, including failing to pay off client mortgages, leading to judgements against clients and potential property seizure. In one instance, a client received notice of an impending property auction due to an unpaid mortgage. Another complaint alleges Hill disbursed proceeds from a property sale to a client in installments over several months.The Law society compensation Fund ultimately reimbursed many of the affected clients.
Hill is also currently named in a civil lawsuit filed by Brian Johnson, owner of Kingswood golf course, who claims the lawyer caused him millions in losses through negligence, deceit, and mismanagement of funds related to the Radisson Kingswood Hotel & Suites construction project in Hanwell.The Fredericton Police Force has confirmed two active fraud investigations are underway concerning Hill, though details regarding the nature of these investigations have not been released.
Hill was admitted to the Law Society of New Brunswick in 2005. He previously practiced at Elliott McCrea Hill and, as of June 8, 2023, operates as a sole practitioner at Vanguard Legal Group.
