Legal cover ups
Very sadly, there has been a marked difference between Joanne van der Plaat’s rhetoric and that of distinct reality, with the covering up of solicitor wrongdoing being maintained, and being so quite openly, during her incumbency as President of the Law Society of NSW.
The public knowledge
The crux of the wrongdoing
On 27 November 2009, Terence Goldberg of Turner Freeman Lawyers acted for the four plaintiffs in Supreme Court proceedings. Pursuant to those proceedings, Terence Goldberg filed an application for the assessment of his costs with the Supreme Court of NSW, while falsely claiming that he acted for five parties in the matter, with the fifth party being the sixth defendant in the proceedings. Terence Goldberg did not act for the sixth defendant; a church and registered charity.
Not content with fraudulently seeking his costs against the sixth defendant, Terry Goldberg clandestinely went on to create two new entities to capture the remaining monies as owned by the sixth defendant, and placed that residue as well as other monies of an unknown origin into a Trust, with a sum in the region of $492,307 thereafter vanishing from same. The Law Society, by turning a wilful blind eye, has offered direct assistance to Mr Goldberg’s criminality.
Wednesday, 2nd November 2022
Ms Joanne van der Plaat
President
Law Society of NSW
170 Phillip Street
Sydney NSW 2000
Dear Ms van der Plaat
Re: Law Society of NSW
We are now into November and into the closing hours of your presidency of the Law Society of NSW, and no doubt you have already embarked on scripting your final President’s Message for the December edition of the Law Society Journal.
I predict you will speak of being honoured and humbled while also speaking of your innumerable accomplishments, of the sacrifices you have made, and of the proud legacy with which you leave your role as president.
However, I also predict that you will forget to mention the time and energy you spent on covering up not only solicitor misconduct and wrongdoing, but also of the corrupt activities as taking place within the Law Society itself.
You had the most wonderful opportunity of not only sorting out the mess you inherited, but also of that as an honest and fearless trailblazer who was prepared to place the legal profession above blatant self-interest. Sadly, and without shame, you chose blatant self-interest as the better option, while the corruption continues unabated around you and indeed probably quite enhanced.
Whether you like it or not, this will be the true legacy that follows you.
Yours faithfully
Law Society Journal
February 2022
“…I think if we’ve learned anything over the past few years, it’s that we’re all human and we should be authentic and genuine.”
“…Some of these initiatives build on the significant achievements of last year’s President, Juliana Warner…”
Thursday, 13th October 2022
Ms Sonja Stewart
Chief Executive Officer
Law Society of NSW
170 Phillip Street
Sydney NSW 2000
Ms Joanne van der Plaat
President
Law Society of NSW
170 Phillip Street
Sydney NSW 2000
Dear Ms Stewart and Ms van der Plaat
Re: Supreme Court proceedings 2009/00291458
I refer to the above proceedings.
Please find attached copy of the filed Summons in such proceedings, the transcript of the only hearing in those proceedings, as well as the judgment of same wherein one Order only is made by her Honour, in that each party is to pay their own costs.
You will, of course, note the parties as listed in each of those documents, with the said documents specifying who acts for whom.
Can you please provide me with the Law Society’s reasoning that Terence Goldberg of Turner Freeman Lawyers acted for the sixth defendant given that the attached Court documentation states that Mr Goldberg acted for the four plaintiffs in the matter; while also bearing in mind that the sixth defendant was an unrepresented party.
I look forward to your immediate response.
Yours faithfully
Law Society Journal
November 2022
“…Accountability feeds into the trust equation, but it is not the only part of the puzzle. It’s about making sure our institutions uphold underlying principles.”
From: Symn Waters
Date: Tuesday, 28 June 2022 09:28 AM
Subject: Conduct of the Law Society of NSW – covering up of criminal activities
To: [email protected]
Cc: c[email protected]
[email protected]
Dear President
Despite having had ample time to do so, you have offered neither comment nor response to my E-mail to you of 13 June 2022. In fact, you have not responded to a single communication regarding issues of misconduct as taking place within the Law Society of NSW.
As you are quite aware, Terence Goldberg of Turner Freeman Lawyers provided false statements to the Supreme Court of NSW in order to make improper and fraudulent financial gain before carrying out other brazen acts of serious wrongdoing, and doing so while being watched quite openly by the Law Society of NSW and the Office of the Legal Services Commissioner, and with both of those overseeing authorities consistently refusing to take proper action.
Some years ago and before the happening of any of the above, with Mr Goldberg acting equally as brazenly and with us knowing exactly what he was doing, myself and another physically visited the Law Society of NSW seeking guidance in relation to Mr Goldberg’s improper conduct. The Law Society told us “come back when it’s done”.
As you well know, we did come back when it was done, however, were faced with further brazen conduct, this time from the Law Society itself, with the Law Society making false and misleading statements of its own in order to protect Mr Goldberg and his disgraceful and distinctly unlawful behaviours.
Indeed, you are aware, too, of the blizzard of threats as issued by the law firm retained by the Law Society of NSW in attempting to cover up the above, with the most recent being on 25 February 2022, and during your own incumbency as President. Thankfully, that law firm has now fallen silent.
Of course, you are aware that that particular law firm, and despite numerous requests to do so, was unable to provide any particulars of the blanket claims it made against me, nor indeed was it able to provide me with the basis of the Supreme Court proceedings it repeatedly claimed the Law Society was going to commence, and indeed was going to commence against me with no further notice to myself.
So, what does a member of the public do when we have open criminality taking place within the legal profession and equally open improper activity at the Law Society of NSW when attempting to cover up that criminality? Where does one go? Further, you are fully aware also of Pauline Wright’s use of the above said law firm during her own incumbency as Law Society President to issue threats regarding my making public of Mr Goldberg’s exploits, with Ms Wright now being a Local Court Magistrate, and with yourself having delivered the swearing in speech at Ms Wright’s investiture. Quite obviously, the options for remedy are somewhat limited.
I leave below my E-mail to you of 13 June 2022 with its enclosures intact. As can be seen from such, both the criminality and the corruption is taking place quite openly. Let us call it for what it is.
I copy this E-mail to the Honourable Judge Peter Johnstone, Chief Magistrate of the Local Court of NSW, and also to the Judicial Commission of NSW.Yours faithfully
Law Society Journal
March 2022
“…One of my priorities this year focuses on values-based leadership and exploring what it takes to be a good lawyer, whether it be ethical strength, moral courage or humanitarianism.“
Tuesday, 24th May 2022
Ms Joanne van der Plaat
President
Law Society of NSW
170 Phillip Street
Sydney NSW 2000
Dear Ms van der Plaat
Re: Criminal conduct
On 16th September 2015, and during a NSW Police investigation into the activities of Terence Goldberg of Turner Freeman Lawyers, the NSW Police wrote to me and stated that ‘Inquiries are still ongoing with the Law Society of NSW as to the nature of previous complaints made against Terence Goldberg.’
As you are quite aware, the NSW Police commenced a criminal investigation into Mr Goldberg’s activities due to several false statements as made in an Application for Assessment of Solicitor/Client Costs, which duly enabled Mr Goldberg to improperly obtain a judgment debt in the District Court in the amount of $124,661.90 against a party for whom he did not act. Mr Goldberg acted for the four opposing parties in the matter.
You are quite aware also, that the complaints as made to the Law Society of NSW related directly to the above (as well as to other various matters of misconduct), with a copy of the aforementioned Application for Assessment of Solicitor/Client Costs being made available to the Law Society during the Society’s then own live investigation into Mr Goldberg’s misdeeds, which, as you know, preceded the NSW Police’s separate criminal investigation.
You are aware that the Law Society, and despite indisputable evidence of wrongdoing on the part of Mr Goldberg being provided to it, dismissed each and every complaint as made in relation to Mr Goldberg’s extraordinary conduct.
Given no sanction was made against Terence Goldberg by the NSW Police, the Law Society of NSW must have misled the police in their criminal investigation and enquiries.
Yours faithfully
Law Society Journal
July 2022
“…What makes me most proud to be part of the legal profession is its collegiality, its fearless advocacy for a just legal system.“
Wednesday, 4th May 2022
Ms Joanne van der Plaat
President
Law Society of NSW
170 Phillip Street
Sydney NSW 2000
Dear President
Re: Corrupt activity within the legal profession
You have been made aware of improper practices at play not only from within the legal profession, but also within the Law Society of NSW. I have written to you directly on a number of occasions regarding same.
You are aware too that the conduct involved relates to the breaching of Court Orders and a fraud as perpetrated on the Court by a practising solicitor.
Despite the incontrovertible nature of the evidence of such, you consistently refuse to either comment or respond. I can only conclude that you find acceptable or even condone the behaviours as brought to your attention.
However, perhaps I should be grateful that you, unlike others in various positions of overseeing authority, have not yet sought to threaten me in an attempt to bring about my silence regarding the above said issues of serious solicitor misconduct.
As you are indeed fully aware of the nature of the wrongdoing taking place, you are also fully aware of the intimidatory conduct of those around you. For the purpose of reference, and in relation to same, I attach copy of letter to you of 7th January 2022.
Again, I await your response.
Yours faithfully
Law Society Journal
November 2022
“…Accountability is just good governance. If you don’t have that then you can’t expect the public to trust you.”
“…Trust is the absolute foundation of any relationship, whether it is your client, the court, or the teams you lead.”
Terry Goldberg
A liar and a thief
Get in Touch
Has the same been done to you?
Are you too the victim of a blatant cover up by either the Law Society of NSW or the Office of the Legal Services Commissioner? Feel free to get in touch.