Judge extends asset freeze in First Nation’s lawsuit against separatist lawyer Jeffrey Rath
Summary
An Alberta Court of King's Bench judge extended a Mareva injunction that freezes $8.5 million of assets belonging to lawyer Jeffrey Rath and his firm, following Tallcree First Nation’s allegations that he misappropriated trust money. The order, which will remain in force until a final judgment or until Rath satisfies conditions such as providing a $15 million security and disclosing asset locations, also requires him to submit a full accounting of fees and charges by early August and to be examined under oath by August 11.
Rath, a long‑time aboriginal‑law specialist and outspoken Alberta separatist, had previously been removed as trustee after Tallcree discovered he had charged the First Nation more than $6 million in fees between 2024 and 2025. The judge cited a pattern of behaviour and affidavits from Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation that point to roughly $12 million in withdrawals paid to Rath’s private company without the First Nation’s knowledge. The extended freeze allows Rath to spend $25 000 in living expenses while the court continues to investigate the alleged misappropriations.
(Source:Google News)