A Federal Court judge found that a Quebec-lawyer unleashed a flood of bogus refugee applications that were copied and pasted.

The fraudulent refugee stories were used in claims by Montreal lawyer Louis Nadeau for 41 different refugees. 

As a result of the scam’s discovery, the Canada Border Services Agency is investigating fake refugee claims from an unnamed law firm. 

When people apply for asylum or refugee status in Canada they are asked to provide a written history to explain the conditions that led them to seek refuge. 

The lawyer in question is accused of using the exact same or very similar story for 23 different applications involving 41 refugee seekers. 

“I am of the opinion that this case is one of those ‘extraordinary circumstances’ where counsel’s incompetence amounts to a breach of procedural fairness,” wrote Justice Denis Gascon. 

“I conclude that the incompetence of (the claimant’s) former counsel resulted in a miscarriage of justice and amounted to a violation of their right to procedural fairness.”

The court case was sparked after a couple noticed errors in their refugee files including facts that they allege were untrue. 

When Nadeau was confronted about the errors, he allegedly brushed them off. 

Then when they had to appear before the Immigration and Refugee Board for a hearing on their applications, they were told that their case was one of 23 other identical ones, leading to a denial based on a lack of credibility. 

“Nadeau’s carelessness undermined (the claimants’) credibility right from the start,” said Gascon. 

“I have no hesitation to agree with (the claimants) that Me. Nadeau’s acts and omissions constituted gross and egregious incompetence.”

Nadeau now faces disciplinary complaints with Quebec’s law authority.