Five professors at the University of Manitoba’s faculty of law are urging the institution and Winnipeg police to pursue legal action against former dean Jonathan Black-Branch. A regulatory body recently found him guilty of misconduct for misspending approximately half a million dollars of university funds.
In a letter addressed to Winnipeg police, the professors expressed concerns and suggested that the University of Manitoba may possess relevant documentation and additional information pertinent to a potential criminal investigation. Black-Branch served as the dean of the U of M’s law faculty from 2016 until his abrupt departure in 2020.
Jennifer Schulz, one of the professors who signed the letter, emphasized the importance of the University of Manitoba pursuing legal action against Black-Branch, especially after the Law Society of Manitoba’s recent finding that his conduct “amounted to fraud” on the criminal standard of proof.
A disciplinary panel of the law society, in a decision dated December 15, determined that Black-Branch had “on many occasions breached his duty of integrity” and committed professional misconduct. The panel’s findings included Black-Branch creating a scheme to avoid oversight, using endowment funds for personal training, and making fraudulent claims for entertainment expenses.
The professors’ letter to the police pointed out that even if the standard had been the criminal standard of beyond a reasonable doubt, the panel would have been satisfied with the evidence.
Despite the regulatory body’s decision, the University of Manitoba has not filed a police report against Black-Branch. The university had previously conducted an internal investigation but did not identify Black-Branch as the individual responsible for misspending university funds.
The police service indicated that it never investigated Black-Branch, and the U of M did not file a report with its financial crimes unit. The professors’ letter raises concerns about the university’s decision not to pursue legal action and emphasizes the financial losses resulting from Black-Branch’s actions.
The Law Society of Manitoba’s disciplinary panel is expected to hold a hearing to determine the penalties Black-Branch will face, which could range from a reprimand to disbarment. The University of Manitoba stated that it welcomes the law society’s findings and is engaging with the Winnipeg Police Service, with the process currently ongoing. The university refrained from providing further comments on the matter.