Directions to Martin Daniel Bell and Graham Mathew inc.

Conservatory Measures

What is a conservatory measure?

The Superintendent of Bankruptcy puts in place conservatory measures when a bankruptcy or insolvency estate needs protection. It might be in cases of Licensed Insolvency Trustee (LIT) malfeasance or if serious wrongdoing on the part of a LIT puts estate files at risk. Conservatory measures may also be put in place if a LIT becomes ill or dies without a valid succession agreement. Finally, conservatory measures may be put in place if a LIT, for whatever reason, has allowed the administration of his or her practice to become substandard.

Canada

In the matter of: Martin Daniel Bell and Graham Mathew Inc.


Directions for Conservatory Measures
(Section 14.03 of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act)


Whereas the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (the Act) provides the Superintendent of Bankruptcy (the Superintendent) with the general power to supervise the administration of all estates and matters to which the Act applies;

Whereas Martin Daniel Bell (the trustee) is the holder of an individual licence as trustee in bankruptcy;

Whereas Graham Mathew Inc. is the holder of a corporate licence;

Whereas an investigation made by the Superintendent pursuant to section 5(3)(e) of the Act revealed that the trustee had a number of deficiencies in the control of estate trust funds and estate administrations;

Whereas the Acting/Assistant Superintendent of Trustee Compliance and the Senior Bankruptcy Analyst have learned that:

  • a number of estates had funds missing from the estate accounts
  • the trustee failed to deposit cash payments received from insolvent persons in the estate accounts;
  • the trustee converted for his own benefit amounts for deposit to the corporate trustee's general account from August 4, 2006 to September 11, 2006;
  • in the summer of 2006, the trustee altered the name of the payee on a cheque made payable to a solicitor from an estate trust account, by inserting the name of the trustee's spouse;
  • the trustee failed to report the above violations to the Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy;

Whereas the trustee has failed to deposit forthwith in an estate trust all funds received for an estate, and

  • failed to maintain up-to-date books and records, including a proper control ledger, of estate funds;
  • permitted unauthorized payments from a estate trust accounts;

Whereas a June 2007 practice review by the Senior Bankruptcy Analyst of the trustee's books and records revealed that the trustee was drawing fees prior to obtaining proper authorization.

Whereas I believe on reasonable grounds that the estates require protection;

Whereas the Superintendent may, for the protection of an estate, exercise the powers set out in subsection 14.03(1) of the Act, in the circumstances referred to in section 14.03(2) of the Act;

Whereas the Superintendent has delegated to me, in accordance with section 14.01(2) of the Act, the powers of the Superintendent as specified at section 14.03(1) of the Act, in the circumstance referred to in section 14.03(2)(b), a copy of which delegation is attached, along with copies of sections 14.01, 14.02 and 14.03 of the Act;

I, William Webster, in my capacity as delegate for the Superintendent, direct:

That, Mr. Martin Daniel Bell and Graham Mathew Inc., remit to the Official Receiver all the assets and files of the estates administered by the trustees as well as the books, accounting and computer data associated with them and all the titles and documents related to said assets and files and to permit Mr. Nelson Smith, and any individual(s) he may enlist in order to fully comply with these directions, to copy all accounting data and all documents contained in any computer or data storage device, relating to the assets and files of the estates, wherever they may be located, particularly at the place of business of the abovementioned trustee at:

150 Pinebush Road,
Cambridge Ontario.

That these directions take effect immediately and will remain in effect until such time as the undersigned is satisfied that the estates no longer require protection;

In accordance with subsection 14.03(3) of the Act, these directions bind their addressees, who must comply with them;

Pursuant to subsection 14.03(4) of the Act, a person who complies with this direction is not liable for any act done by the person only to comply with this direction

Signed at the City of London Ontario, this 27th day of August, 2007.

William Webster
Acting Assistant Superintendent, Trustee Compliance

This document has been reproduced as submitted by the delegate of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy.