‘C u in 15 – be there’: Lawyer accused of professional misconduct over threatening messages
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Melbourne lawyer Pat Lennon has been accused of professional misconduct by the legal industry regulator over threatening text messages he sent to another lawyer who gave evidence during a County Court trial in 2020.
The Victorian Legal Services Commissioner (VLSC) recently informed Lennon that he faces “disciplinary prosecution” over the SMS exchange, which it alleges was an attempt to influence evidence provided by lawyer James Podaridis.
Lawyer Pat Lennon pictured in 2016.Credit: Jesse Marlow
Lennon, who is already embroiled in a dispute with the commissioner in the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, is also accused of bringing the legal profession into disrepute, according to a May 16 email from the VLSC.
“U at ur mums fat c—?” Mr Lennon asked Podaridis during the County Court trial involving a finance company called Argyle Lending owned by his wife, Jane Lennon.
Argyle Lending was the plaintiff in a civil claim against a woman called Maria Lantouris who had agreed to provide a property as security on a debt purportedly owed to Lennon’s former law firm.
Lennon sent a second profane message to Podaridis: “U will probably leave her alone like the fat weak c— u r.” He then texted: “C u in 15 – be there.”
Lennon’s practising certificate expires in June.
County Court judge Aileen Ryan described the exchange as “disgraceful conduct” and Podaridis made a complaint to the VLSC and police at Mordialloc station.
Almost three years after receiving the complaint, the VLSC has launched disciplinary action against Lennon.
“It is my view that some of your conduct amounts to professional misconduct and warrants disciplinary prosecution at the tribunal,” VLSC investigations director Matthew Anstee said.
The lawyer has represented underworld figure Mick Gatto and jockey Danny Nikolic.
“That conduct is of such grave seriousness and goes to the heart of legal practice and a lawyer’s duty to the court and the administration of justice,” he said in an email to Lennon.
Lennon, who has represented underworld figure Mick Gatto and jockey Danny Nikolic, appeared before VCAT in April after the VLSC failed to renew his practising certificate, which expires in June.
The VLSC provided a 480-page dossier to VCAT supporting its decision, which included media reports on Lennon, complaints made against him and confidential information relating to drug charges he faces.
In 2020, Lennon was allegedly found with 11 grams of methamphetamine and almost $6000 cash when he was pulled over by police in South Yarra. Earlier this year, Shepparton police charged him with separate drug-driving offences.
Court hearings for both cases have been adjourned because Lennon is stuck in Malaysia after his passport expired.
In November last year, Lennon was assaulted during the lunch break of a court hearing he was involved in, according to a barrister representing him.
He allegedly sustained a broken jaw in the daylight attack outside his office in Queen Street on November 9, when he was appealing a Magistrates’ Court costs order, and was taken to Royal Melbourne Hospital.
The Age revealed in February that Lennon allegedly made sexual advances towards at least two former female clients who had also borrowed money from Argyle lending.
The 59-year-old appears to have offered one of the women a reduction on her loan fees if she agreed to his requests.
“Pay your money you c—. I told you,” Lennon said in an SMS exchange in August 2020. “I told you I would reduce your fees considerably as long as you follow my instructions in the bedroom! You will like it!!”
A spokesman for the Victorian Legal Services Commissioner defended its three-year investigation before proceeding with a disciplinary prosecution against Lennon.
“Disciplinary matters often take time to investigate and finalise. This involves gathering enough evidence to conduct a thorough and fair investigation,” the spokesman said.
Lennon did not respond to requests for comment from The Age. Podaridis declined to comment.
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