Disgraced Vernon lawyer found to have misappropriated $117K from dementia-stricken client
Tribunal defines misappropriation as 'tantamount to theft' in ruling against former lawyer Leonard Marriott
A Vernon lawyer already banned from practicing law for improper dealings with elderly clients has now been found to have misappropriated $117,000 from a female client with dementia.
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lawyer → find → dementia
The ruling against Leonard Hil Marriott is detailed in a Sept. 24 decision of a Law Society of British Columbia tribunal.
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ruling → detail → tribunal
The Society defines misappropriation as "tantamount to theft."
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Society → define → theft
The decision says Marriott used the woman's money to buy an apartment for himself and to pay out another client's estate.
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Marriott → say → estate
"The purported loan was contrary to [Marriott's] duty of loyalty and duty to not use his position for personal advantage," reads the decision.
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decision → use → advantage
It says Marriott has not repaid the money.
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Marriott → say → money
Last year, the Law Society banned Marriott for 10 years after he was found guilty of professional misconduct in cases involving two unrelated elderly clients.
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he → ban → clients
The newest decision concerns a third client, a woman who was 84 when Marriott began acting on her behalf in 2017.
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Marriott → concern → 2017
It says in 2018, Marriott prepared a power of attorney agreement that authorized him "to make decisions and do anything on the [woman's] behalf in relation to her financial affairs.
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that → say → affairs
In addition to the misappropriated funds, the Law Society says Marriot arranged paperwork to give himself a half ownership stake in her condo, worth almost $400,000 at the time.
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Marriot → misappropriate → time
Once he was on the property title, a maintenance enforcement order for unpaid child support was registered against the property by his former spouse.
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order → register → spouse
The order was eventually removed.
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order → remove → ?
In March of last year, Marriott transferred legal title back to the woman at the request of the Law Society.
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Marriott → transfer → Society
Marriott also created a will for the woman, naming himself executor and recipient of 75 per cent of her estate, according to the decision.
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Marriott → create → decision
The disgraced lawyer said that he was aware the woman suffered from progressive dementia and claimed to have developed a "close familial-like relationship" with her.
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woman → say → her
While he admitted to the majority of the facts in the case, he argued unsuccessfully that the Law Society should deem the $117,000 an "improper withdrawal of funds," a less serious finding than misappropriation.
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117,000 → admit → misappropriation
'Leaves people frustrated'
Speaking generally, B.C. forensic accountant and certified fraud examiner Marilyn Mellis said the findings of a regulatory body like the Law Society would not trigger a criminal charge or investigation because determining criminality is outside its scope.
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determining → leave → scope
Mellis said in her experience, it is rare for police or the Crown to pursue prosecution in cases of alleged white collar wrongdoing.
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police → say → wrongdoing
"They just don't," said Mellis.
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Mellis → do → ?
"They're just not interested in it, and it leaves people frustrated."
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it → leave → people
Mellis, who is based in Peachland, says regulatory bodies do not have the power to seek repayment for victims.
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bodies → base → victims
"They have no right to demand it, that's up to the court if the process goes through either civil or criminal [proceedings]," she said.
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she → have → proceedings
Three years ago, the woman's family filed a civil suit in B.C. Supreme Court alleging Marriott conspired to divert her money for his benefit and to gain control of her property.
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Marriott → file → property
Marriott denied the allegations, stating in a response that he "always followed the instructions … while she had capacity to give such instruction and otherwise always acted in her best interest."
In a separate petition, family members have asked the court to appoint them as the woman's legal guardians.
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members → deny → guardians
After his ban in 2025, Marriott's North Valley Law practice was seized by the Law Society after he was found to still be controlling solicitor trust accounts.
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he → seize → accounts
CBC News attempted to reach Marriott for comment, but did not hear back.
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News → attempt → comment
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