VANCOUVER, Canada — A lawyer in Vancouver has resigned her license to practice law after filing a frivolous lawsuit filled with pseudolegal elements, according to the Law Society of B.C. Naomi Arbabi voluntarily gave up her license, which had been under interim suspension since December. The law society stated that her resignation does not automatically end any ongoing investigations into her actions. However, the details of investigations remain confidential unless they result in a citation or consent agreement.
Earlier this year, Arbabi’s lawsuit against her neighbor, Colleen McLelland, was dismissed. Arbabi had accused McLelland of trespass for allowing their condo building’s strata to install a glass privacy divider on her rooftop deck. The associate judge presiding over the case noted that Arbabi’s lawsuit resembled claims made by OPCA (Organized Pseudolegal Commercial Arguments) litigants, a discredited legal theory favored by fringe groups such as Sovereign Citizens and Freemen on the Land.
Arbabi has remained silent on her resignation. However, she recently posted on Instagram, suggesting that her actions may seem irrational to others but make perfect sense to her. In her notice of claim filed in October, Arbabi referred to herself as “i, a woman” and indicated that the case would be tried in the “naomi arbabi court.” She argued that her claim was based on the law of the land and not on legal codes or statutes.
Associate Judge Susanna Hughes of the B.C. Supreme Court ruled that Arbabi’s claim was frivolous, vexatious, and an abuse of process. Hughes highlighted similarities between Arbabi’s arguments and those made by OPCA litigants, referencing the 2012 Meads vs. Meads decision from Alberta. As a result, Arbabi was ordered to pay special costs and was deemed to have violated the oath she took when she was admitted to the bar.
Arbabi’s unconventional approach to the law became evident when she appeared in court, insisting that she was not representing herself as a lawyer but as “a living, breathing, alive woman.” She also insisted on using a lowercase “i” when referring to herself. While Arbabi agreed to discuss her lawsuit and rationale with a reporter in November, she ultimately declined to answer any questions and instead read a notice warning of potential legal consequences for publishing a story without her consent.
In a recent interview, Arbabi referred to her legal approach as “law for mankind” and claimed to have experienced an “awakening” during the COVID-19 pandemic, which she believed involved government overreach. However, it remains unclear whether her unorthodox legal tactics will continue in the future.