Credit: Contributed

Retired lawyer was outed to Law Society by former business partner

KELOWNA – Kevin James Anderson, a former lawyer who last week was ordered by the Law Society of British Columbia to stop giving legal advice, was outed by a Kelowna man who claims Anderson's ‘legal services’ helped force him from his own company.

Joel Kutschera is the former co-owner of Vital Waters. Kutschera said in an affidavit for the law society that Anderson drew up the agreement that removed him from the company he started.

“It’s cost me everything. I’ve gone through a lot in my life but this is way worse,” he says. “It’s ultimate betrayal. These are people that I trusted. I helped them out and they turned around and called me a thief.”

Kutschera and Anderson met at a Crime Stoppers golf tournament in 2011. Anderson had business cards from Benson Law in Kelowna that represented himself as a lawyer to both Benson Law and Kutschera. Unknown to both was that Anderson was suspended from the Law Society of Alberta for failing to pay fees, meaning he was no longer a practicing lawyer.
According to the affidavit, Anderson later entered into a shareholder agreement with Vital Waters where he agreed to receive two per cent of the company’s shares in exchange for being appointed the company’s legal advisor. Anderson filed no affidavits explaining his actions, but he told Infonews.ca last week he never represented himself as a lawyer to either Benson Law or Kutschera.

“I was moving away so why would I waste the money renewing my licence in Alberta?” he says. “I am not and never have been an employee with Vital Waters.”

Now Anderson is part of the company and Kutschera is out. Anderson joined the company in the midst of a shareholder disagreement that ultimately ousted Kutschera amid allegations from both sides. Kutschera informed the law society resulting in last week’s order, which Anderson consented to. Kutschera said the matter may not end there and hasn’t ruled out legal action regarding his dismissal from the company.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Adam Proskiw at aproskiw@infotelnews.ca or call 250-718-0428. To contact the editor, email mjones@infotelnews.ca or call 250-718-2724.

Tags
Adam Proskiw

Adam has lived in B.C. most of his life. He was born in the Caribou, grew up in the Okanagan, went to university on Vancouver Island and worked as a news photographer in Vancouver. His favourite stories incorporate meaningful photography and feature interesting, passionate locals. He studied writing at UVic and photojournalism in California. He loves talking tractors, dogs and cameras and is always looking for a good story.


Adam Proskiw's Stories

Related Articles