Nygard attorney bows out of case
Advertisement
Read this article for free:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
We need your support!
Local journalism needs your support!
As we navigate through unprecedented times, our journalists are working harder than ever to bring you the latest local updates to keep you safe and informed.
Now, more than ever, we need your support.
Starting at $15.99 plus taxes every four weeks you can access your Brandon Sun online and full access to all content as it appears on our website.
Subscribe Nowor call circulation directly at (204) 727-0527.
Your pledge helps to ensure we provide the news that matters most to your community!
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Add Brandon Sun access to your Free Press subscription for only an additional
$1 for the first 4 weeks*
- Enjoy unlimited reading on brandonsun.com
- Read the Brandon Sun E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
*Your next Free Press subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $20.95 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $24.95 plus GST every four weeks.
Read unlimited articles for free today:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 10/04/2024 (901 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
WINNIPEG — 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 a 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.
In January, prominent defence attorney Brian Greenspan, who represented Nygard during his trial in Toronto, told court he could no longer represent Nygard on the Manitoba charges, citing “ethical reasons.”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.
» Winnipeg Free Press