Tan & Associates | Toronto, Ontario, Canada
A lawyer since 2004
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Ping-Teng Tan, a retired Toronto lawyer, faces a court order to pay over $1 million to clients who accuse him of withholding money from real estate and business deals. Tan, whose license has been suspended, has yet to comply with the order. Clients claim he kept proceeds from the sale of their home and business.
Xiaolong Zhang and his wife, who sold their auto parts distribution business in Vaughan, Ontario, at the end of last year to fund their retirement, are among those affected. They trusted Tan due to previous legal work he had done for them. The business sold for over $520,000, which was transferred to a trust account set up by Tan's law firm, Tan & Associates. Despite numerous calls, texts, an in-person visit, and a legal demand, Tan has not transferred the money to Zhang and his wife.
Zhang expressed deep anguish and betrayal, feeling deceived by someone they trusted with their future. Tan did not respond to CBC Toronto's requests for comment. His law firm email has been shut down, and the phone number is out of service.
Zhang and his wife filed a court application against Tan. As Tan did not file materials or oppose the application, an Ontario Superior Court judge ordered him to pay Zhang and his wife over $534,500 plus legal costs. However, they have not received any money. Zhang stated that Tan's actions robbed them of their retirement dreams.
Tan is also facing two lawsuits from clients who claim he kept proceeds from real estate transactions. In one case, a default judgment was ordered that Tan has not yet paid, while the second case is still before the courts. Ontario Superior Court Justice Jill Cameron ruled that Tan breached contract, trust, and fiduciary duty, suggesting he likely misappropriated the funds.
Zhang has filed a report with York Regional Police and a complaint with the Law Society of Ontario (LSO), which regulates lawyers in the province. During the LSO's investigation, Tan failed to provide required documents, including bookkeeping records. Instead, through his lawyer, he informed the LSO in April that he retired and closed his practice after 47 years of being called to the Ontario bar.
Despite retiring, Tan is still required to cooperate with the investigation. As of April 12, he had not handed over the requested documents. In June, the LSO suspended Tan's license, citing a risk of harm to the public. The LSO decision stated that allegations of misappropriation of trust monies raise serious concerns about a licensee's integrity. Tan consented to the suspension but did not admit guilt. He can still contest the allegations at a disciplinary hearing.
Three months after the proceeds of Zhang's business sale went into Tan's trust account, he was sued for keeping the proceeds of a real estate transaction. A couple sold their home in Markham for $2.8 million in January 2023 and hired Tan to handle the transaction. Due to their non-resident status, they had to hold back a quarter of the sale proceeds for tax purposes. The remaining $547,000, once taxes were paid, was to be released to the couple. However, Tan did not hand over the money, and a judge ordered him to pay the couple more than $550,000.