The Manitoban writes
U of M previously did not proceed with legal action against prof who misspent half a million dollars
The University of Manitoba has requested police open an investigation into former law school dean Jonathan Black-Branch. The decision follows a Law Society of Manitoba disciplinary hearing that found the former dean misused over half a million dollars of U of M funds during his term, including money taken from a university endowment fund supporting the law school’s Desautels Centre, which aims to foster research as well as collaboration between the academic, legal and private sectors, and of which Black-Branch was chair and director.
The university had not sought criminal or civil charges against Black-Branch until late December, despite allegations of financial impropriety that arose in 2020.
The administration waited for the outcome of Black-Branch’s disciplinary hearing with the law society before moving forward, said U of M’s executive director of strategic communications Myrrhanda Novak.
“We reviewed the decision, which noted ‘that even if the standard had been the criminal standard of beyond a reasonable doubt, the Panel would have been satisfied that proof was sufficient,’” Novak said.
The law society hearing reviewed allegations that Black-Branch misused funds to pay for meals, accommodations, education and travel expenses.
Black-Branch went on leave without explanation in spring 2020 while the university conducted an audit in response to concerns raised by a whistleblower over misuse of funds earlier that year.
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