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Denunciator lacks party standing under LPAV

ATA/165/1998Court of Justice / Administrative ChamberMar 24, 1998Dismissed

Open source

Extracted by Omnilex

Omnilex summary

A person filed a denunciation against a lawyer and later attempted to contest the authority's refusal to act. The court held that, under LPAV, the denunciator must be informed of the follow-up given to the denunciation but has no access to the file, no right to the reasons for the decision, and no party status. Acting only as an auxiliary of the authority, the denunciator cannot appeal the refusal to proceed, even if the decision may have consequences in related civil litigation.

Omnilex headnote

Art. 56 LPAV; standing of the author of a denunciation against a decision not to pursue disciplinary action against a lawyer. The denunciator is entitled only to be informed of the follow-up given to the denunciation; he or she has no right of access to the file, no entitlement to the reasoning of the decision, and no party status. By initiating the procedure, the denunciator acts merely as an auxiliary of the supervisory authority. Consequently, the denunciator lacks standing to appeal a refusal to give follow-up, even if the supervisory decision may have repercussions in separate civil proceedings.

Full text

Descripteurs

AVOCAT; AUTORITE DE SURVEILLANCE; PARTIE A LA PROCEDURE; PUBLICITE(COMMERCE); PROCEDURE ADMINISTRATIVE; DENONCIATEUR; CONSULTATION DU DOSSIER; DECISION; PLAIGNANT; BARR

Normes

aLPAV.56

Résumé

Selon l'art. 59 LPAV, l'auteur d'une dénonciation est avisé de la suite qui y a été donnée, mais il n'a pas accès au dossier et il ne lui est pas donné connaissance des considérants de la décision. Il n'a ainsi pas la qualité de partie contre la décision d'une commission de surveillance, comme celle du Barreau, quand bien même la décision prise par cette instance peut avoir une incidence sur une procédure civile à laquelle le dénonciateur est partie. L'auteur d'une dénonciation à l'encontre d'un avocat doit être avisé de la suite qui est donnée à celle-ci (art. 56 LPAV), mais ne peut recourir contre le refus d'y donner suite, car en déclenchant la procédure il n'agit que comme auxiliaire de l'autorité.

Keywords

standingdenunciationdisciplinary procedureaccess to fileparty rightssupervisory authorityappeal admissibility

Extracted by Omnilex

Key legal questions extracted by Omnilex

Key legal question

Whether the author of a denunciation has party standing and access to the file in proceedings under LPAV

Extracted holding

The denunciator must be informed of the action taken on the denunciation, but has no access to the file and is not entitled to the reasons of the decision; therefore, the denunciator is not a party to the decision.

Extracted reasoning

Under Art. 59 LPAV, the denunciator only receives notice of the follow-up given to the complaint. By triggering the procedure, the denunciator acts merely as an auxiliary of the authority, not as a party with procedural rights.

Key legal question

Whether the denunciator may appeal against the refusal to act on a denunciation against a lawyer

Extracted holding

No appeal is available to the denunciator against the refusal to give follow-up to the denunciation.

Extracted reasoning

Because the denunciator does not have party status, the decision does not confer standing to challenge the authority's handling of the denunciation, even if the decision may affect separate civil proceedings involving the denunciator.

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