VCAT slams Greek Australian solicitor
The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) has found Greek Australian solicitor Ellias Rallis guilty of wrongfully obtaining and keeping a settlement amount from a client and practising without a licence, according to a Herald Sun report last week.
The case was brought against Mr Rallis by the Legal Services Commissioner who in a statement to Neos Kosmos English Edition (NKEE) said: “The paramount reason for the regulation of lawyers is protection of the public. The VCAT has made its decision in relation to the series of matters raised in this case. This decision should reassure the public that this type of behaviour is not acceptable.”
The series of matters refer to a case from 2002 when, according to the VCAT judgement, Mr Rallis had asked from a client a check for $6750 which he deposited in his account.
The Herald Sun wrote that “While Mr Rallis admitted misappropriation of part of that money, he claimed he was entitled to $2161.50 for services his firm had performed.”
This claim, however, was not accepted by VCAT which found that at the time Mr Rallis could not receive trust money since he didn’t have the mandatory practicing certificate.
When asked by NKEE to comment on the case, Mr Rallis said: “I’ve been concerned that the matter has taken so long to resolve. We’re talking about matters that arose in 2002. I accept what has happened and it certainly does not reflect what I’m doing today and hope to do in the future.”
Mr Rallis is a solicitor for Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV), a position from which he was suspended on full pay according to the Herald Sun report, something which he denied when speaking to NKEE.
“I’m not suspended and I’m continuing my role here at the CAV,” Mr Rallis said. It should be noted that solicitors who work in government positions are not required to have a practicing certificate.
As a result of the VCAT decision he will be banned from applying for a licence to practice until the end of 2010 and it won’t be until after July 1 of 2014 when he can apply for authorisation to manage trust money.
Advertisement
-
We should accept gay marriage(11)
-
Hellenic line in the sand(5)
-
Why can’t they flirt?(4)
-
Greece Reaps the Fruits of Corruption(4)
-
Greek lobby mixed efforts in Canberra(4)
-
The politics of transition in Greek Australian community organisations(4)
-
5
-
5
-
4.666665
-
4.5
-
4
-
4
More from this Section
- Greek flavour to UN health event
- Greek language scholarships announced
- First service in 88 years at Panageia Soumela
- Hellenic Council NSW promotes Greeks in politics
- $20 million construction project approved
- Family trees with Greek roots
- Calombaris new challenge
- Queensland man still missing after one week
- Vasili to work his magic in school garden
- The force in blue wants you to join up
Advertisement
-
Fiv Antoniou, best-selling author of two motoring books and six-time winner of of Shannon's Victorian All Holden Day Show and Shine, shares his car care tips.
-
A look at important Greek grains
-
The Cypriot commuinty of Western Australia is collecting recipes for their Cypriot cookbook
-
Fans of Greek music will love ABC Radio's Greek music event
-
Mark Manopoulos, Angelo Loukakis and John Danalis are among more than 400 writers at the Melbourne Writers' Festival, which opens this week
-
Mark Manopoulos, Angelo Loukakis and John Danalis are among more than 400 writers at the Melbourne Writers' Festival
-
Mark Bouris crunches the numbers behind Greece's economic woes
-
John-Paul Hussey reviews Jane Montgomery Griffiths' one-woman show.
-
Corrections Victoria has slammed reports Greek Australian convicted serial rapist John Xydias participated in "Prison Masterchef"
-
While the financial crisis has taken a toll for many Athenians, Fotis Kapetopolis says the reality is that Athens stands eternal.
-
ABC’s Foreign Correspondent is talking to Greeks about how they feel about the financial crisis facing Greece.
-
Its fifth place at the EuroBasket Women’s Championship has seen the Greek womens national basketball team qualify for the 2010 Worlds in the Czech Republic as well as the 2011 EuroBasket Women in Poland.
-
Corruption is rife in the Greek public sector, according to the annual report of the Greek Auditor General released last week.
-
Andronas Conservation Architecture win award for the work on Newman College in Melbourne
-
Greece’s state and political leaders celebrated Easter Sunday in various parts of Greece, making statements which address the current political and economic situation in Greece.
-
Gambling addict Harry Kakavas who had sued Crown Casino for taking advantage of his addiction has lost his bid to force them to repay his losses.
-
Greece is setting up an agency to investigate alleged cases of abusive or violent treatment of citizens by police.
-
A series of emergency measures were announced by the Greek Government following the fires in Attiki.
-
The Greek Under 20s mens baskettball team exchanged passes, banter and a basketball top with the Greek Prime Minster when he hosted them last week
-
Anna Cominos explores Pavlopetri, Laconia's submerged town
-
Young Greek industrial designer wins first prize in the ‘Athens Bench Mark’ competition for best design of street furniture.
-
Greek gymnast Vassilis Tsolakidis just missed out on a medal in the parallel bars at the World Gymnastics Championship in London.
-
The winter season in Greece looks like offering intruiging sets of performances by many of the leading Greek performers.
-
The new Ambassador of Greece in Australia gives an extensive interview on a range of issues and priorities.
-
The first Piano Landmark series organised by Stefan Cassomenos was a fantastic success.
-
Sydney born journalist Georgia Cassimatis entered Hollywood and found all that glitters is not gold.
-
Laura Burgoine takes a look at Greek Australians running for the Federal Election, outside the major parties.
-
Round 18 was poor for the three Greek clubs with the Cannons and the Bergers going down and Hellas being held to a draw.






















