Kristin Dangerfield, senior lawyer for the Manitoba Law Society, says the oversight agency was made aware of issues involving Alex Chapman and Jack King in 2003. (CBC)

The Manitoba agency overseeing the conduct and discipline of provincial lawyers was made aware of Alex Chapman's harassment complaint against Winnipeg lawyer Jack King seven years ago, but no public disciplinary action was taken, its senior lawyer told CBC News Thursday.

Kristin Dangerfield, the lawyer representing the Manitoba Law Society, said issues involving Chapman and King were investigated and handled by the oversight body in 2003 but that the circumstances didn't warrant a public airing of the facts.

"At that point, Mr. King was no longer practising and, in fact, didn't practise for a period of approximately one year," Dangerfield said. "And within that timeframe, [King] provided the Law Society with an undertaking that he would not return to practice until such time as he provided a medical report establishing that he was fit to return."

The revelation that the Law Society knew about the case in 2003 comes as the Society is investigating a complaint Chapman launched against King this July, alleging he was harassed after retaining King to act as his divorce lawyer in 2003.

It was in 2003 that King solicited Chapman to have sex with his wife, Lori Douglas, and sent him sexually explicit photos of her. Douglas, a lawyer at the time, was appointed a judge of Manitoba's Court of Queen's Bench (family division) in 2005. She has temporarily stepped aside from active duty but remains with the court in an administrative capacity.

'Some may take issue with the judgment call that was made, and the Law Society is of the view that it took every step that was reasonable.'—Kristin Dangerfield

After Chapman complained to King's law firm, Thompson Dorfman Sweatman LLP, Chapman signed a confidentiality agreement. King paid him $25,000, and in return he agreed not to speak about the matter, refrain from taking legal action and destroy any related photos and materials.

King was asked to leave the firm over the incident and he complied.

Last week, Chapman went public with his allegations against King after filing complaints with the Canadian Judicial Council and the Law Society. He has also filed lawsuits against King, Douglas and the law firm.

Not interviewed: Chapman

Winnipeg lawyer Jack King is being sued by Chapman for harassment. King is countersuing on claims his privacy was breached. (CBC)Dangerfield said that when it became aware of Chapman's allegations in 2003, the Law Society took every reasonable step to protect the public under the circumstances.

"There are a number of ways that the Law Society can protect the public, and [a disciplinary hearing] is only one of them," Dangerfield said. "Active steps were taken by the Law Society to protect the public. This is difficult work. Professional discipline and judgment calls are made all the time.

"Some may take issue with the judgment call that was made, and the Law Society is of the view that it took every step that was reasonable under the circumstances to protect the interest of the clients."

Chapman said neither he nor Ian Histed — the lawyer who handled the confidentiality agreement Chapman signed in 2003 — were interviewed by the Law Society regarding King's conduct at the time.