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![\"John](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/4103559_web1_CP171168179.jpg\")
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John Woods \/ THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES<\/p>\n
Rutherford had practised in Manitoba since 1992 and over the years \u201chas been involved in a slew of professional misconduct incidents,\u201d association executive director Dana Forster said in a Feb. 19 affidavit. That includes practising without a licence, failing to maintain liability insurance, fraudulent billing, and claiming to be able to treat eye diseases, including macular degeneration.<\/p>\n
In 2019, Rutherford was suspended for six months after he admitted to taking financial advantage of an elderly female patient.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe foregoing pattern of professional misconduct demonstrates that Mr. Rutherford has a history of blatant disregard for his regulatory body,\u201d Forster wrote in her affidavit. \u201cMr. Rutherford\u2019s continued practice without a licence puts the public at risk.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rutherford did not attend court to receive Bock\u2019s order. A court affidavit says Rutherford told an association staffer in a Feb. 27 phone call he was \u201cover this and (do) not care, you can do what you want.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rutherford said he was in hospital after suffering a stroke and would not be practising.<\/p>\n
The chiropractic association filed court action against Rutherford on Feb. 19. Court documents show insurance provider Blue Cross notified the association on Jan. 23 that Rutherford had provided chiropractic services to two patients for $50 each.<\/p>\n
Association staff conducted an online search and discovered Rutherford was operating a clinic on Court Avenue.<\/p>\n
A staff member, who was posing as a patient, called the clinic Jan. 29 and was told by a man who identified himself as Rutherford that he was taking new patients.<\/p>\n
The association delivered a letter to Rutherford that same day telling him to \u201cdesist\u201d from practising and holding himself out as a chiropractor.<\/p>\n
Rutherford responded the following day, claiming he was not holding himself out as a chiropractor, was referring chiropractic patients elsewhere and was complying with the restrictions that had been placed on him.<\/p>\n
\n\t\tWinnipeg Free Press | Newsletter\n\t<\/p>\n
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\u201cDespite Mr. Rutherford\u2019s assertions, he continues to hold himself out to be a chiropractor, and he continues to provide chiropractic services,\u201d Sami Fitur, the association\u2019s regulatory administrator, wrote in an affidavit.<\/p>\n
The association hired a private investigator who visited the clinic Feb. 11 posing as a new patient. In an affidavit, the investigator said Rutherford told him he had \u201cjust retired\u201d but agreed to take him as a new patient.<\/p>\n
The investigator said Rutherford told him he saw patients from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. most days, provided services to Hutterites from 10 colonies who visited the clinic and that he only billed private patients, not insurance companies.<\/p>\n
The investigator said Rutherford told him \u201che doesn\u2019t like his regulatory association and that they are made up of board people who don\u2019t know what they are doing.\u201d<\/p>\n
dean.pritchard@freepress.mb.ca<\/p>\n
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Dean Pritchard Dean Pritchard is courts reporter for the Free Press. He has covered the justice system since 1999, working for the Brandon Sun and Winnipeg Sun before joining the Free Press in 2019. Read more about Dean<\/a>.<\/p>\n Every piece of reporting Dean produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print \u2014 part of the Free Press\u2018s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press\u2019s history and mandate<\/a>, and learn how our newsroom operates<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Courts reporter
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