James Kitchen Files Application for Adjurnment in Barry Neufeld's BC Human Rights Tribunal Case
The BC Teachers Federation, on behalf of the Chilliwack Teachers Association, filed a complaint with the BC Human Rights Tribunal, Case No. CS-001372.
Mr. Neufeld has been unrepresented by legal counsel for seven months. While Mr. Neufeld had been represented by David Bell and Shauna Gersbach of Guild Yule LLP, in February 2024 his professional liability insurer discontinued funding his legal representation, and Mr. Bell and Ms. Gersbach withdrew. Mr. Bell and Ms. Gersbach required a $150,000 retainer to continue Mr. Neufeld’s representation, which was untenable.
Mr. Neufeld set about trying to find alternative counsel, which proved nearly impossible, given his limited means in combination with either lack of interest in his case or lack of availability to provide representation. Mr. Neufeld approached the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms, Freedoms Advocate, the Democracy Fund, and Paul Jaffe—all of whom declined.
Mr. Neufeld retained James SM Kitchen, a sole practitioner from Alberta, after close of business on September 18, 2024 (10:17 PM PST, to be precise). The next day, Mr. Kitchen worked quickly to contact opposing counsel to inform her he was on the file and would be requesting an adjournment, and to seek her client’s consent to an adjournment.
Download the Application for Adjournment (PDF)
Download the Response to the Application for Adjournment (PDF)
Download Barry Neufeld's Affidavit (PDF)
