Could Rob Ford get the boot?

(Video added) A private citizen has filed a legal motion, accusing Toronto’s mayor of violating the municipal conflict of interest act. Now, a high-profile Toronto lawyer has taken on the case against Rob ford – free of charge.

According to Paul Magder, and his lawyer Clayton Ruby, Ford used the power and influence of his office improperly – and then voted to make the financial consequences disappear.

As a councillor, Ford sent out letters on official city stationery, asking lobbyists to make a donation to his private charity: The Rob Ford Football Foundation. The integrity commissioner said the mayor used his office and his influence improperly – and Ford was told he had to pay the lobbyists back. That would have been about $3,100 directly out of the mayor’s pocket.

Instead, Ford allegedly went to council and together, they voted to remove the sanctions against him. According to the integrity commissioner, that too is a conflict of interest.

Ford’s press secretary issued a one-sentence response to the legal action: “City council has already dealt with this issue.”

Even so, should a court decide that Ford violated the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act, he could be removed from office and barred from municipal politics for seven years.

The legal motion is expected to receive a hearing on March 23.

Video: Scot Urquhart reports: