Latest news with #DenesolineCorporation
Yahoo
02-08-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
N.W.T. appeal court denies former Denesoline CEO's challenge of ruling against him
The N.W.T. Court of Appeal has dismissed an application from former Denesoline CEO Ron Barlas. Barlas had sought to appeal an N.W.T. Supreme Court ruling against him, which ordered, among other things, his removal as CEO of Łutsel K'e Dene First Nation's (LKDFN) business arm, Denesoline Corporation. Supreme Court Justice Karan Shaner found Barlas had used his authority improperly to enrich himself and his family. In a decision Friday, Court of Appeal justices Jack Watson, Jolaine Antonio and Karen Wenkebach wrote that neither of the grounds Barlas cited for appeal — whether Shaner had given him and his wife Zeba a fair hearing, and whether the remedies granted to LKDFN were justified — had merit. The decision comes as the latest development in the wide-ranging civil lawsuit LKDFN filed against Barlas, who for years ran Denesoline Corporation. The First Nation accused him of diverting nearly $12 million from its companies for his own gain. The decision states Barlas objected to the fact Shaner's decision relied on affidavits, questioning, documents and lawyers' oral presentations, and felt she should have ordered a trial. "Barlas ... disputes various findings by [Shaner] about discreditable conduct that she found was revealed by his own words and the documentary record," the decision noted. The Court of Appeal found Shaner canvassed similar cases from other jurisdictions of Canada to help her come to a decision. The court wrote that the suggestion that Shaner's decision to not order a trial led to unfairness is "not an accurate way of looking at what happened here." It cited case law where a judge observed that the ultimate question in a fairness test isn't whether a decision was "the" fair one, but rather "a" fair one. "The appellants have no basis to claim that they did not have fair notice or opportunity to present evidence and argument," the court wrote. The Court of Appeal wrote that Shaner's findings, including her characterization of Barlas' actions and attitude, were "amply supported by the evidence."
Yahoo
02-08-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
N.W.T. appeal court denies former Denesoline CEO's challenge of ruling against him
The N.W.T. Court of Appeal has dismissed an application from former Denesoline CEO Ron Barlas. Barlas had sought to appeal an N.W.T. Supreme Court ruling against him, which ordered, among other things, his removal as CEO of Łutsel K'e Dene First Nation's (LKDFN) business arm, Denesoline Corporation. Supreme Court Justice Karan Shaner found Barlas had used his authority improperly to enrich himself and his family. In a decision Friday, Court of Appeal justices Jack Watson, Jolaine Antonio and Karen Wenkebach wrote that neither of the grounds Barlas cited for appeal — whether Shaner had given him and his wife Zeba a fair hearing, and whether the remedies granted to LKDFN were justified — had merit. The decision comes as the latest development in the wide-ranging civil lawsuit LKDFN filed against Barlas, who for years ran Denesoline Corporation. The First Nation accused him of diverting nearly $12 million from its companies for his own gain. The decision states Barlas objected to the fact Shaner's decision relied on affidavits, questioning, documents and lawyers' oral presentations, and felt she should have ordered a trial. "Barlas ... disputes various findings by [Shaner] about discreditable conduct that she found was revealed by his own words and the documentary record," the decision noted. The Court of Appeal found Shaner canvassed similar cases from other jurisdictions of Canada to help her come to a decision. The court wrote that the suggestion that Shaner's decision to not order a trial led to unfairness is "not an accurate way of looking at what happened here." It cited case law where a judge observed that the ultimate question in a fairness test isn't whether a decision was "the" fair one, but rather "a" fair one. "The appellants have no basis to claim that they did not have fair notice or opportunity to present evidence and argument," the court wrote. The Court of Appeal wrote that Shaner's findings, including her characterization of Barlas' actions and attitude, were "amply supported by the evidence."
CBC
13-02-2025
- Business
- CBC
N.W.T. judge orders former CEO to transfer a property back to Denesoline Corporation
The former CEO of Łutsel K'e Dene First Nation's business arm, Denesoline Corporation, has been ordered to transfer a property back to the First Nation-owned company. Ron Barlas is accused of misappropriating money from the Łutsel K'e Dene First Nation (LKDFN) company. The First Nation alleges he used some of that to buy properties in Yellowknife. In July 2024, the N.W.T. Supreme Court found that Barlas "abused" his position as Denesoline CEO. Justice Karan Shaner said Barlas used company resources for personal gain. Barlas appealed the decision. He also asked for a stay on transferring ownership of the disputed properties, until his appeal was heard. The lawyers for the Denesoline Corporation argued they should be transferred immediately. There are three properties: one on Yellowknife's Curry Drive, the house on Niven Drive that Barlas lives in, and a cabin. The properties are collectively valued at over $2 million. In December, Justice Nicholas Devlin ordered the transfer of the cabin while deferring the rest. On Wednesday in the N.W.T Court of Appeal, Justice Jack Watson ordered the Curry Drive property's ownership to be transferred to the corporation. Since Barlas was removed from his CEO position last year, Denesoline Corporation and several LKDFN companies have been managed by an accounting firm, B. Riley Farber Inc. Toby Kruger is a lawyer representing them. He said Wednesday's order will allow that property to be sold off or leased, as needed. Kruger also told the court that an agreement has been reached to hold off on the Niven Drive property. Under the agreement, Barlas can stay in the house until his appeal is heard. Justice Watson told the court, that "it's an interesting of nuances."
