Disbarred British Columbia lawyer allegedly sexually harassed client | iNFOnews

June 11, 2024 – 19:00

A British Columbia lawyer who was convicted of sexual assault and disbarred is accused of sexually assaulting a client seven years ago.

The BC Law Society has found that Nanaimo-based lawyer Marc Andre Scheirer, also known as Marc Andre Eckardt, sexually harassed a client through unwanted comments, advances and physical contact while representing her as a client between 2016 and 2017.

According to a June 6 decision by the Law Society of BC, during their first meeting, Eckardt hugged her from behind, rubbed his foot on the client’s leg and placed his hand on her thigh, arm and back.

Once, a social worker in the courtroom asked the client why her lawyer kept touching her.

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In December 2023, Eckardt’s license to practice law was revoked after he was convicted of sexually abusing a client.

He laid his head on his client’s chest, rubbed her leg, moved his hand toward her crotch and said, “The nicer you are to me now, the sooner we’ll get your husband home.”

After his conviction, he received a suspended sentence and two years probation.

After working for years in California and Washington state, Eckardt registered in BC in 2015 and quickly received a “very concerning” entry on his professional registry. He was monitored for alcohol and drug use and suspended for six months for “predatory behavior” toward a client.

The plaintiff in this case saw the media coverage and contacted the Bar Association.

The client said she went to Eckardt to obtain a restraining order to protect her and her children from a violent former partner.

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When they first met, Eckardt came up to her from behind, put his arms around her chest and pressed her body against his. She “froze” in fear.

After about a minute he let go, the decision said.

Then they both sat down and he rubbed his foot on her leg.

Afterwards, she brought her children with her to visit the lawyer.

At a court hearing, the client said that Eckardt appeared “very unkempt,” “smelled bad,” and appeared to be drunk.

When asked why she continued to see Eckardt, she said she did not know if she would use another lawyer because legal aid had assigned him to her. She also said she had been subjected to verbal and physical attacks throughout her life and had learned to de-escalate situations.

The decision stated that Eckardt had not provided any evidence regarding the facts in question and was not a reliable witness.

Ultimately, the Bar Association concluded that Eckardt had sexually harassed his client.

A possible penalty will be decided at a later date, but it is likely to be minimal since the lawyer has already been disbarred and an earlier order requiring him to pay $14,000 in fees was vacated due to his “poor financial condition.”

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