Law Times

Page 20 November 19, 2018 • Law Times www.lawtimesnews.com u Bizarre Briefs By Viola James u The InsIde story "They got divorced and split the business assets." ELON STRIKES AGAIN MEXICO CITY — Reuters reports that Tesla Inc. co-founder Elon Musk and Mexico's tequila producers could be headed for a collision after the agave-based drink's industry group opposed the f lamboyant billionaire's efforts to trademark an alcoholic drink dubbed "Teslaquila." One of the world's richest people and chief executive of Tesla, Musk is known for ambi- tious and cutting-edge projects ranging from auto electrification and rocket building to high- speed transit tunnels. Now, it seems that Musk could be setting his sights on disrupting the multi-billion-dollar tequila industry. On Oct. 12, he tweeted "Teslaquila coming soon" and an accompanying "visual approxi- mation" of a red-and-white label with the Tesla logo and a caption that stated "100 percent Puro de Agave." Not so fast, said Mexico's Tequila Regulatory Council. It argued that the "name 'Teslaquila' evokes the word Tequila . . . [and] Tequila is a protected word." The CRT keeps tabs on producers to assure they adhere to strict denomination of origin rules, which dictate that the spirit must be made in the Mexican states of Guanajuato, Jalisco, Michoacán, Nayarit or Tamaulipas, among oth- er requirements. According to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office website, Tesla has filed an application to trademark "Teslaquila" as a "distilled agave li- quor" and "distilled blue agave liquor." Similar applications have been filed in Mexico, the Eu- ropean Union and Jamaica. Tesla did not respond to several requests for comment. YES, TV ZOMBIES ARE THE PROBLEM LOUISVILLE — A Republican governor claims Americans' obsession with zombie television shows is to blame for violence in the U.S. In a radio interview with conservative talk show host Leland Conway, Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin said new gun laws aren't the solution to vio- lence but addressing a "culture of death" in media is a start, reports the Louisville Courier Journal. "It starts with everything from the type of entertainment that we focus on," Bevin said. "What's the most popular topic that seems to be in every cable television network? Television shows are all about, what? Zombies!" He added, "When a culture is surrounded by, inundated by, rewards things that celebrate death, whether it is zombies in television shows . . . there's a thousand justifications for why we do this." Bevin, who has said he is running for re- election in 2019, ranked as one of the Top 10 least popular governors in the U.S. in a poll by Morning Consult. But Bevin said he doesn't care much for polling. "Have you ever seen a poll in which I wasn't unpopular?" Bevin asked the radio host. REF BANNED AFTER ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS BLUNDER LONDON — Referee David McNamara has been handed a three-week ban by the English FA for asking two captains to play rock, paper, scissors to decide the kick-off before a Women's Super League match after forgetting his coin, reports Reuters. The incident took place ahead of Manchester City's home game with Reading on Oct. 26 and involved their England skipper Steph Hough- ton and visiting captain Kirsty Pearce. A coin toss to decide who kicks off is a re- quirement under the Laws of the Game, but McNamara left his coin in the dressing room and allowed the captains to play rock, paper, scissors to determine kick-off and playing ends, the BBC reported. "The FA can confirm that referee David Mc- Namara has been suspended for 21 days, start- ing from Monday 26 November, after accepting a charge of 'not acting in the best interests of the game,'" an FA spokesman was quoted as saying. McNamara, who has the right to appeal against the FA suspension, will be able to return to duty from Dec. 17. LT RADNOFF JOINS DICKINSON WRIGHT Lawyer Brian Radnoff, who previously practised at Lern- ers LLP, has joined Dickinson Wright LLP as a partner in the firm's Toronto office. Radnoff says he plans to leverage the firm's cross-border business to take advantage of the U.S. client base and, in turn, help Dickinson Wright's Toronto of- fice expand its reach in commer- cial litigation. "Thankfully, given that we still have a free trade deal with the U.S. — or at least we expect to — I think this is a really good opportunity to me to expand that aspect of my practice," says Radn- off. "Now that things are a bit more settled, I think that there's go- ing to be a lot more investment going both ways. Any time you have business dealings, you have the potential for disputes, and you need people like myself." Dickinson Wright's announcement on Nov. 12 noted Radnoff 's background in professional negligence and discipline cases, appeals, class actions and estates. Radnoff says the marijuana business is also likely to generate cross-border legal action. "One area that this firm has been involved in — the marijuana industry — is obviously going to be a huge thing, particularly given the different legal structures in the U.S. and Canada," says Radnoff. "I think a lot of U.S. companies are going to be looking to Canada." KLIPPENSTEIN SIGNS ON TO SUIT AGAINST LSO STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES Murray Klippenstein, found- ing principal of Klippensteins Barristers & Solicitors in To- ronto, has joined as a co-applicant suit challenging the Law Society of Ontario's Statement of Prin- ciples requirement, according to a statement from the Canadian Constitution Foundation. The amended notice of ap- plication seeks a judicial review in Divisional Court on the grounds that the requirement is contrary to sections of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Klippenstein joins Ryan Alford, who teaches at the Bora Laskin Faculty of Law at Lakehead University, in the suit. LAW SOCIETY REVOKES LICENCE FOR OTTAWA LAWYER Ottawa lawyer John Ronald Houlahan was ordered to pay costs of $5,000 to the Law Soci- ety of Ontario and his licence was immediately revoked, said the Law Society Tribunal, in an Oct. 29 order. Earlier this year, a notice of application said Houlahan had allegedly failed to tell the LSO that he had been charged with indictable offences. Houlahan pleaded guilty in 2017 to an allegation he stole more than $5,000 during his tenure chairing a local commit- tee at St. Patrick's Parish Ceme- tery, the law society's application said. YES, I AGREE 40% 60 % NO, I DO NOT AGREE LAW TIMES POLL A proposed amendment to the provincial Juries Act would re- peal the rule that prevents peo- ple convicted of an offence from serving as jurors. Law Times asked readers if they agreed with this change. The majority, 60 per cent, disagreed with the proposed change, saying the change would not have beneficial effects on jury composition. Forty per cent agreed with the proposal, say- ing prior convictions should not stop someone from serving on a jury. LT Visit www.store.thomsonreuters.ca or call 1-800-387-5164 for a 30-day, no risk evaluation ONTARIO LAWYER'S PHONE BOOK 2019 Ontario Lawyer's Phone Book is your best connection to legal services in Ontario with more than 1,400 pages of essential legal references. More detail and a wider scope of legal contact information for Ontario: • Over 26,600 lawyers listed • Over 8,700 law firms and corporate offices listed • Telephone numbers, e-mail addresses, office locations and postal codes Perfectbound Published December each year On subscription $87.50* One time purchase $91* Order No. L7798-8405 ISBN 978-0-7798-8405-6 Multiple copy discounts available Plus applicable taxes and shipping & handling. (prices subject to change without notice) CONNECT INSTANTLY TO ONTARIO'S LEGAL COMMUNITY Untitled-3 1 2018-11-06 2:59 PM Brian Radnoff is joining Dickinson Wright LLP in Toronto.

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