Jean Lelièvre, a trustee in Quebec, faces significant legal issues, including sanctions from an administrative tribunal for multiple professional misconducts. The Quebec tax authority is pursuing over $200,000 from him, while the Royal Bank seeks a court-controlled sale of his office property due to unpaid debts. Despite a seven-month license suspension, a Federal Court ruling allows him to continue operations during his appeal. Lelièvre acknowledges his financial difficulties but remains confident in resolving his challenges.
Jean Lelièvre Faces Legal Challenges in Quebec
Jean Lelièvre, a prominent trustee based in Quebec, is currently navigating serious legal troubles after receiving sanctions from an administrative tribunal. He has been accused of “repeated transgressions involving several files,” leading to significant scrutiny of his professional conduct.
The Quebec tax authority is seeking over $200,000 from Lelièvre, while the Royal Bank has initiated a court-controlled sale of the property that houses his offices. Known for promoting his services on the radio, the trustee faced condemnation on January 30 from an administrative judge at the Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy (OSB), the body responsible for licensing licensed insolvency trustees (LITs).
Sanctions and Appeals
Both Jean Lelièvre and his firm, Jean Lelièvre Syndic, were found guilty of five charges, a ruling they are contesting through a judicial review process, akin to an appeal for decisions made by a federal administrative judge. On October 9, the OSB announced a seven-month suspension of his license and that of his firm, effective 30 days later.
However, on November 13, the Federal Court intervened, permitting Lelièvre to continue his operations while his appeal is underway. The charges against him include collecting advance fees—ranging from $235 to $22,000—without proper authorization in 17 out of 29 reviewed files. Additionally, he is accused of hastily collecting final fees in 16 out of 20 files, improperly appointing an inspector at a creditors’ meeting lacking quorum, signing misleading documents, and failing to manage proposals correctly.
The judge emphasized that these violations could undermine the integrity of the insolvency system, highlighting the fiduciary duty of trustees to manage others’ assets with the utmost care. Although Lelièvre has no prior disciplinary history as a trustee, he faced a six-month suspension in 2009 for signing fraudulent financial documents and a subsequent 60-day suspension in 2022.
Financial Troubles and Defense
In addition to issues with the OSB, Lelièvre’s financial situation is precarious. On December 6, the Royal Bank of Canada filed a notice of recourse for a court-controlled sale regarding the commercial property where his company is located at 5260 Wilfrid-Hamel Blvd. The company has defaulted on monthly payments since August, with the bank demanding immediate repayment of $879,578. Furthermore, Revenue Quebec is pursuing $202,904 in taxes and duties from him.
In response to these challenges, Lelièvre stated that he has appealed the sanctions and that the situation is now in the hands of his legal team. He expressed confidence that his office continues to function normally and that he intends to resolve the matter with Revenue Quebec. Lelièvre assured that if found at fault, he is willing to address his debts, and he is actively working on settling his issues with the Royal Bank.