He says the experience has hurt his practice. He has noticed the family-law files coming across his desk have declined by a third.

“You build a whole life trying to establish a reputation. And you try to do good work. You try to be a good person. And this person comes out of nowhere and for absolutely no reason, says the most disparaging thing they could possibly say about you,” he says.

It began in 2015 when Zed hired another lawyer – Allan Levine – to help her with a cohabitation agreement. Displeased with Levine’s service, she complained to the law society, posted about Levine on Facebook and parked a van adorned with signs criticizing him across the street from his law office. The signs included messages such as “Lawyer Allan Levine misrepresented me as a favour to a fellow lawyer,” “Allan Levine is A Liar & A Thief” and “Lawyer Allan Levine cost me my future, by doing a favour to a fellow lawyer. Trusted him to protect me… He did not… Instead he let another lawyer manipulate him… which makes him stupid!”

White says Zed was there from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day for three weeks, until Levine got an injunction and sued Zed for defamation. Zed counter sued for deficient legal services.

It was during Levine’s dispute with Zed that White became embroiled in the controversy. White is not a business partner with Levine but the two share an office space. David Lutz, who was acting for Levine on the defamation case, had White do an affidavit about the experience of having Zed out in front of their office with her signs and speaking with passersby.