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Lawyer Disbarred After Being Declared a Vexatious Litigant in University Dispute

Claudiu Popa, a former member of the Barreau du Québec, was declared a vexatious litigant (plaideur quérulent) by the Superior Court in July 2024 following an escalating dispute with the Université de Sherbrooke regarding a teaching assignment in…

By Marcus Liu - Business Editor Updated September 3, 2026

Lawyer Disbarred After Being Declared a Vexatious Litigant in University Dispute

Claudiu Popa, a former member of the Barreau du Québec, was declared a vexatious litigant (plaideur quérulent) by the Superior Court in July 2024 following an escalating dispute with the Université de Sherbrooke regarding a teaching assignment in criminal law, according to court documents and disciplinary records. The conflict began in December 2021 when Popa, who had been employed at the university since 2012, reviewed documentation and identified alleged irregularities in course allocations spanning from 2015 to 2023, according to a decision by the Conseil du Bureau des présidents des conseils de discipline (BPCD). Popa concluded that the university awarded teaching charges to candidates with less experience than him, which he argued violated the collective agreement, as noted by panel members Jean-Guy Légaré, Karl Chabot, and Louise Desautels.

Grievance Rejection and Legal Escalation

After discovering the alleged discrepancies, Popa contacted his union and filed a grievance request. According to disciplinary filings, the union declined to carry the grievance forward, determining it had no reasonable chance of success. In response, Popa launched multiple legal challenges across various jurisdictions, including filing a complaint against his union at the Tribunal administratif du Travail and seeking judicial review in the Superior Court after that complaint was dismissed. Concurrently, the Université de Sherbrooke argued that beginning in February 2022, it faced a constant stream of unjustified legal challenges from Popa aimed at compelling the institution to grant him a teaching position, according to case records. Popa did not attend the disciplinary hearing regarding his sanction, stating he was neither informed of the filed complaint nor notified of the hearing held by the Barreau du Québec’s disciplinary council.

Disciplinary Rulings and Quérulence Declaration

The Barreau du Québec found Popa guilty of acting in a manner that prejudiced the administration of justice regarding his qualification disputes. In a written statement, Popa criticized the ruling, stating that the decision of the Barreau du Québec made him laugh, and asserted that his actions were a proportional response to institutional violations. The disciplinary council determined that declaring an attorney a vexatious litigant tarnishes the honor and dignity of the profession, noting that such declarations for lawyers are exceptionally rare. According to testimony from a human resources management advisor at the Université de Sherbrooke, dealing with Popa’s legal filings consumed a substantial portion of their work time in 2022, forcing them to work weekends. The university estimated that the legal proceedings cost hundreds of thousands of dollars that otherwise would have supported student teaching and research. The employee also testified that the volume of filings created exhaustion among faculty staff and prompted the institution to implement security measures due to concerns for the physical safety of personnel and students.

Resignation and Public Contest

Popa resigned from the Barreau du Québec in 2025, stating in written remarks that he chose to disassociate himself from the organization. He indicated he does not intend to appeal the disciplinary decisions but plans to continue contesting them publicly.

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