Law Times

Aug 19, 2013

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Page 16 August 19, 2013 Law Times • u The u Bizarre Briefs InsIde story By Viola James JUDGE DENIES MESSIAH'S TITLE COCKE COUNTY, Tenn. — A Tennessee judge has ordered a baby's first name changed from "Messiah" to Martin, saying that the only true messiah is Jesus Christ, a ruling the boy's mother promises to appeal, a Tennessee television station has reported. The parents of Messiah DeShawn Martin went before Tennessee child support magistrate Lu Ann Ballew because they couldn't agree on the seven-month-old's last name. Ballew instead last week ordered the baby's name changed to Martin DeShawn McCullough, the Tennessee television station WBIR reported. "The word 'messiah' is a title, and it's a title that has only been earned by one person, and that one person is Jesus Christ," Ballew told WBIR. Ballew said the child would likely struggle with his given first name because he lives in Cocke County, a predominantly Christian area in eastern Tennessee. "It could put him at odds with a lot of people and, at this point, he has had no choice in what his name is," Ballew said. Jaleesa Martin, the baby's mother, told WBIR she would appeal the judge's order. "I didn't think a judge could change my baby's name because of her religious beliefs," Martin said. Christianity refers to Jesus as the Messiah, while Judaism uses the term to mean an anticipated savior of the Jews. Dictionary definitions say the word can mean one who is seen as, expected or professes to be a saviour or liberator. Messiah was the 387th most popular name for boys born in the United States in 2012, based on applications for social security cards filed with the U.S. Social Security Administration. — Reuters FREE SPEECH FOR BOOBIE BRACELETS UPHELD EASTON, Pa. — Two girls suspended from a U.S. school for refusing to remove "I [heart sign] Boobies!" bracelets supporting breast cancer awareness say they feel vindicated by a U.S. appeals court decision that says their free speech rights were violated. "It's definitely exciting to know we did something important," said Brianna Hawk, who was an eighth grader at the Pennsylvania public school when she took action that led to the decision by the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals. "We finally made a point that the bracelet isn't that bad," said Kayla Martinez, who was a seventh grader at the time at Easton Area Middle School. The opinion began three years ago, when the girls started wearing the bracelets, which came from an organization that wanted to open a dialog about body image and breast cancer. School administrators, however, worried that the bracelets were an unneeded invitation to middle school boys to make lewd comments and banned them. A battle over the bracelets made it all the way to the full appeals court, which ruled the school district can't ban them, citing their right to free speech. The school district, joined by the Pennsylvania Association of School Boards, argued that allowing the bracelets would open the door to a parade of other, more vulgar slogans with seemingly political or social statements. The court found that helping students navigate these questions falls within the school's duty to train them as citizens. "Schools cannot avoid teaching citizensin-training how to appropriately navigate the 'marketplace of ideas.' Just because letting in one idea might invite even more difficult judgment calls about other ideas cannot justify suppressing speech of genuine social value," the court said. LT MILLER THOMSON PARTNER MOVES TO DICKINSON WRIGHT Corporate lawyer Alan Litwack has joined Dickinson Wright LLP. Litwack, who was previously of Miller Thomson LLP, joins the Toronto office as a partner. "Mr. Litwack has experience in a wide range of industries including high-tech, telecommunications, retail, clean tech, environmental, manufacturing, real estate, business services, and professional service Alan Litwack firms," Dickson Wright said in a release. The firm also touted Litwack's experience in corporate and commercial matters, especially his knowledge in mergers and acquisitions, securities, and capital markets. TWO JUDGES APPOINTED Two new judges will join the Ontario Court of Justice this week. Ronald Marion, who will preside in Windsor, Ont., practised criminal and civil litigation at Sloniowski & Marion before he moved to Blackadder Leon Marion and Fazari LLP where he did work in family law in addition to criminal and civil cases. Marion brings to the provincial court several years of experience as chairman of various councils and associations, including the Ontario School Trustees Council. He was also previously a school trustee with the Niagara South Board of Education. Kevin Phillips has been an assistant Crown attorney in various regions ever since his call to the bar in 1999. He has prosecuted a range of criminal cases with a recent focus on Internet child luring and exploitation matters. Phillips was a founding member of the Ottawa mental health court committee and volunteered with several other hospitals and mental health groups. He will preside at the court in Brockville, Ont. AN APP FOR CAR ACCIDENTS Personal injury lawyers at Windsor, Ont., law firm Goldstein DeBiase Manzocco have released a smartphone application for people involved in car accidents. The firm came up with an app that gives drivers traffic information and points them to the nearest gas station. But in case their travel goes awry and they end up in an accident, drivers with the app can press a button on their phones and find out what to do next. It's one way the firm is making sure its clients have the right type "No scandals from there at least!" of information. "There are many mistakes people can make in the frantic moments after an accident which may ruin their case or cost them money down the road," the law firm says. "The smartDRIVER app helps you gather the information you will need for police, insurance companies, and your lawyer." A step-by-step instruction at the scene of the accident allows drivers to complete a checklist of information. The app also comes with a camera feature to photograph and store images in addition to recording software for interviewing witnesses at the scene. "With a click of a button, you can send photos and recordings to our office," the firm says. The application is free for anyone in the Windsor-Essex area. FUNDING BOOST FOR FAMILY VIOLENCE PROJECT The Government of Canada says it's investing nearly $250,000 in a pilot project aimed at helping victims of family violence. The Scarborough Family Justice Centre is a "more victimfocused and victim-friendly approach to criminal justice and social services intervention," the government said in a press release. "Home and family should be safe havens, but unfortunately that is not always the case," said Justice Minister Peter MacKay. "In 2011, police reported almost 95,000 victims of family violence in Canada. Our government is committed to addressing the trauma experienced by victims of violence." Victim Services Toronto, police, and other community organizations jointly run the pilot project. LT The title insurer that puts you front row, centre Putting the legal community front and centre has made us the #1 choice with Canadian lawyers for over a decade. Stewart Title does not support programs that reduce or eliminate the lawyer's role in real estate transactions. For more information call (888) 667-5151 or visit www.stewart.ca. Untitled-2 1 www.lawtimesnews.com 7/19/11 12:31:45 PM

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