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Six years ago John Findlay won a $20 million class action lawsuit for residents and businesses affected by the Six Nations reclamation effort in 2006. The last $1.5 million was still to be dispersed until the lawyer informed the Law Society he spent the money and wouldn’t explain why.

The $20 million check delivered to John Findlay in 2011 and received by his wife and law partner Margaret McCarthy were provincial dollars meant to compensate people and businesses in Caledonia. Findlay and McCarthy were paid $3.4 million out of that and said at the time “we think we’ve been adequately compensated.”

Now the 63-year-old says he also spent the final $1.5 million that was held in reserve, so almost a quarter of the provincial settlement went to the lawyers. Findlay told the Law Society in an email that he used the money and couldn’t pay it back. He said his wife had no knowledge of this.

John Findlay did not show up for his hearing before the Law Society tribunal. We heard that he agreed to the suspension. The lawyer for the Law Society tried to reach him during a break and all his phone numbers were disconnected, he did though respond to an email saying he was ok with changes to the order.

The Law Society says both lawyers have been administratively suspended because they didn’t pay the insurance which covers mistakes that cause financial harm to others. This is also the second time Findlay has been suspended from the Law Society for misappropriating client money. The first time he lost his licence from 2001 to 2003.

Law Society investigators spent a day going through documents in Findlay’s office and he showed up at the end. He said he wanted to resign as a lawyer and was told he couldn’t during an active investigation.

Hamilton police are believed to be investigating but no one could be reached for comment.