Paralegal who helped clients fight traffic tickets kept operating after licence revoked, Law Society alleges

The Law Society of Ontario is warning people that a former paralegal who helped clients fight traffic tickets allegedlycontinued to offer his services even afterhislicence was suspendedtwiceand then revoked.

Benito Zappia operated a firm called"We Win or It's Free." Now, the Law Society istakingover the businessand warning clientsthey may no longerbe represented in court. Itwill take custody of all of Zappia's client files and materials.

Zappia's licence was first suspended on Dec. 18, 2019, several months after he was criminally charged in connection withan alleged traffic-ticket fixing case. His licence was then suspended indefinitely onJuly10, 2020 andfully revoked earlier this year.

Last month, the court released hearing detailsin which the Law Society alleged Zappia had continued to accept legal work for new and existing clients andacceptretainer payments. The society also accused him ofkeeping his office, as well as hisassociated website and phone number,open to the public without notice of his suspension.

In addition, it allegedZappiaprovided a compliance report containing false information and failed to cooperate with the society'sinvestigation.

Criminal case still pending

Police charged Zappia in relation to thetraffic-ticket fixing scheme in May of 2019. A clerk at the Eglinton Avenue West courthouse, who isaccused of altering a number of courtdocuments,was allegedly paid off for doing so. The criminal case is still pending.

Zappiawas charged withbreach of trust, fraud over $5,000, uttering forged documents and conspiracy to commit an indictable offence.

Bryan Badali, Zappia'sdefence lawyer, told CBC News in a a phone interviewthat his clientis planning to contest the allegations made against him.

"[He] is looking forward totelling his side of the story at the appropriate time during the court proceedings," Badali said.

The criminal trial has not yet been scheduled.

In the meantime, the Law Society isurgingall of Zappia's former and currentclients to contact its Trustee Services department by emailing WeWinZappiaTrusteeship@lso.ca or by calling 416-947-3366.

Legal professionals who accepted referral work from Zappia or any "We Win"business after Dec.18, 2019 are also required to report the matter to the Law Society.