Nygard without counsel on Manitoba sex charges after second lawyer steps aside, citing conflict
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 09/04/2024 (517 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Nearly three months after Peter Nygard’s lawyer told a court he could no longer defend him on Manitoba sex charges, the disgraced former fashion mogul is still looking for someone to fill his shoes.
On Tuesday, lawyer Tim Valgardson, who previously confirmed he had been in discussions to represent Nygard, told a Winnipeg court he could not proceed.
“I discovered that taking on the case or accepting the retainer would put me in a conflict,” Valgardson told provincial court Judge Tracey Lord.
“It’s my understanding speaking to Mr. Nygard’s personal representative that he’s in the process of retaining alternate counsel,” he said.
Nygard, who was convicted after trial last year in Toronto of four counts of sexual assault, did not appear in court.
Nygard, 82, is also facing prosecution in Quebec and New York. He remains in custody.
In Manitoba, Nygard is charged with one count each of sexual assault and forcible confinement for an alleged incident at his former Winnipeg headquarters in 1993.
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Nygard tells judge he needs another month to find new criminal lawyer
In January, prominent defence attorney Brian Greenspan, who represented Nygard at trial in Toronto, told court he could no longer represent Nygard on the Manitoba charges, citing “ethical reasons.”
“There’s been an irreconcilable breakdown in the solicitor-client relationship, and I’ll go further and simply say that it is now what I would call and characterize as adversarial,” Greenspan told provincial court Judge Stacey Cawley.
In an email provided to court, Nygard accused Greenspan of making the move to drive up his fees.
An affidavit submitted by lawyer Seth Weinstein, a partner at Greenspan’s firm, said Greenspan’s request to withdraw from the case was in his best interest and wasn’t about money.
The affidavit said if the application wasn’t made it would be a breach of Greenspan’s professional duties as a lawyer.
“The withdrawal is sought for ethical reasons,” it said.
Nygard’s next Manitoba court date is May 14.
dean.pritchard@freepress.mb.ca
Dean Pritchard is courts reporter for the Free Press. He has covered the justice system since 1999, working for the Brandon Sun and Winnipeg Sun before joining the Free Press in 2019. Read more about Dean.
Every piece of reporting Dean produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.
Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.
Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Dean Pritchard is courts reporter for the Free Press. He has covered the justice system since 1999, working for the Brandon Sun and Winnipeg Sun before joining the Free Press in 2019. Read more about Dean.
Every piece of reporting Dean produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.
Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.
Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
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