A Toronto-area provincial Liberal candidate — and daughter of the riding’s federal MP — was disciplined by the law society for professional misconduct after more than 150 complaints of “harassing and threatening” behaviour by her staff in their work for collection agencies.

Deanna Sgro, the candidate for Humber River-Black Creek, was reprimanded in 2013 for professional misconduct for not properly overseeing her staff to the “standards of a professional law office.”

A tribunal of the Law Society of Upper Canada said the sheer number of complaints was significantly higher than other lawyers, and that the aggressive phone calls and other tactics by Sgro’s staff were “abusive.” It also found the practice of sending out “draft” court documents confused many into thinking legal action had already been initiated against them, and called it “deceitful and misleading.”

The panel noted the case of an infirm, hearing impaired 83-year-old, who’d had open heart surgery, was told in calls and a letter saying he could lose his house over a decade-old debt. Worried, he took the subway and two buses to get to small claims court only to be told by staff there that the documents were not legal.

In a statement to the Star, Sgro — who at the time of the hearing used the name Deanna Lynn Natale — said she took over the practice more than a decade ago “and quickly became responsible for over 40 people.

“Unfortunately some mistakes were made and as a lawyer I am responsible for all matters in my office including the behaviour of my staff. I accepted absolute responsibility for their conduct, I fully cooperated with the law society and apologized … I respected and participated in the process with honesty and transparency.

Sgro also noted that she “remained a lawyer in good standing at all times and my personal integrity remained intact.”

She also said she “(continues) to practice law today and confirm that as stated by the adjudicator I have an otherwise unblemished career and in addition to my practice of law, I volunteer regularly for Law Help Ontario.”

In its decision, the panel noted that many complainants cited intimidating phone calls, where Sgro’s staff would say things such as: “I’ve checked you out thoroughly; I know more about you then (sic) I think I know about my own wife.”

In deciding to reprimand Sgro, the panel said “the level of harassment, intimidation, abuse and harm inflicted upon” complainants — some of whom had already paid off the monies owed — added to the seriousness of the case.

Opposition parties called on Premier Kathleen Wynne to take action.

“We’ve seen in recent weeks that this kind of behaviour is uncalled for in society, but as a potential public figure” even more so, said PC Finance Critic Lisa MacLeod. “The premier likes to talk about having higher standards, but clearly they don’t have the same standards for the party.”

“By backing Sgro, Kathleen Wynne is telling Ontarians struggling with high bills – cell phone, hydro or otherwise – that this province is a place where people … will be treated with hostility instead of compassion,” said NDP Community and Social Services Critic Lisa Gretzky.

“Kathleen Wynne owes it to families of Humber River-Black Creek, and all those victimized by Sgro’s law firm, to reconsider Sgro’s place on her team.”

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Sgro’s mother Judy is a veteran federal politician who has represented the area for almost two decades.

The possibility of both serving public office together prompted Premier Kathleen Wynne to Tweet on Monday: “If she's elected as MPP for Humber River—Black creek, our candidate @Deannasgro and her mom, federal MP for the same riding @JudySgroMP, will be the first mother-daughter duo in Canadian politics!”

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