Eric Lamaze accused of forging medical documents to delay trial over disputed horse sale
Eric Lamaze, a three-time Olympic medalist in show jumping, has been found guilty of fraud by a Canadian court for faking a terminal brain cancer diagnosis to avoid a lawsuit over a disputed horse sale. The court ruled that Lamaze, 55, submitted counterfeit medical letters and photos of his disfigured face after a surgery that never took place.
Lamaze, who is Canada’s most decorated equestrian athlete, was sued by Iron Horse Farm for allegedly selling three subpar horses in 2010. The farm claimed that the horses had health and behavioral issues that were not disclosed by Lamaze. The lawsuit sought damages of $400,000.
Lamaze claimed to have cancer since 2017
Lamaze’s lawyer filed a motion to adjourn the trial in June 2023, claiming that his client had been battling brain cancer for several years and that the disease had spread to his throat. He said that Lamaze was scheduled for another surgery on June 11 and that he had retired from the sport in March 2022.
The lawyer also submitted three medical letters purportedly written by doctors from a Belgian hospital, where Lamaze was said to be receiving treatment. The letters stated that Lamaze had been diagnosed with brain cancer in November 2017 and that he had undergone several operations and chemotherapy sessions.
However, the plaintiff’s lawyer questioned the authenticity of the letters, noting that Lamaze had made similar claims in early 2019 to postpone the hearing. He also pointed out that Lamaze had competed in several events in March 2019 and that he had given interviews where he did not mention his illness.
Court found evidence of forgery and deception
The court ordered an investigation into the medical letters and found that they were fabricated. The letters contained spelling errors, incorrect addresses, and false signatures of the doctors. A private investigator hired by Iron Horse Farm visited the hospital and confirmed with the doctors that they had never treated Lamaze or written the letters.
The court also examined the photos of Lamaze’s face after the alleged surgery and found that they were manipulated using Photoshop. The court concluded that Lamaze had tried to deceive the court and the public by pretending to be a terminal cancer patient.
The judge dismissed Lamaze’s motion for adjournment and ordered him to pay $25,000 in costs to Iron Horse Farm. The judge also said that Lamaze’s conduct was “a grave affront to those who have genuinely battled this deadly disease.”
Lamaze’s lawyer resigned from the case
Lamaze’s lawyer, who resigned from the case after the ruling, said that he was shocked and appalled by his client’s actions. He said that he had trusted Lamaze and believed his story. He also apologized to the court and the plaintiff for his role in the fraud.
Lamaze has not commented on the court’s decision or his fake cancer diagnosis. He is still facing the lawsuit from Iron Horse Farm, which is expected to resume soon.
