Law Times

Page 20 September 2, 2013 Law Times • u The u Bizarre Briefs InsIde story By Viola James SWISS SEX DRIVE-IN OPENS ZURICH — Is this what things will look like in Canada when the Supreme Court rules on our prostitution laws? Greeted by a press pack rather than prostitutes, the first customer to roll up to Switzerland's sex drive-in on opening night took one lap of the facility before making a hasty exit. The second car, a family vehicle driven by a man in sunglasses under cloudy evening skies, broke down and needed jump starting in front of a host of photographers sniggering into their cameras. According to Reuters, Zurich authorities had said they expected a modest start to the country's first so-called sex boxes, a row of drive-in wooden garages on a looping track where clients in cars can visit prostitutes, shielded from prying eyes and security cameras. Prostitution has been legal in Switzerland since 1942 with sex workers in Zurich required to have a special permit and health insurance and pay tax. The number of prostitutes in the Alpine nation has risen sharply over the last decade due to the decriminalization of procuring and passive solicitation of sex alongside agreements between Switzerland and the European Union on the free movement of people. Complete with panic buttons in each shed, showers, a laundry room, and on-site health workers, supporters say the system offers relative security to sex workers and privacy to their clients while reducing the disturbance to locals. Between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m., men can cruise along the track and choose a prostitute from wooden shelters before parking in one of the nine drive-in boxes. According to Reuters, some critics have voiced concern that the novel fascination with the sex boxes, which have cost taxpayers more than 2 million francs to construct, is a distraction from more serious issues about exploitation and human trafficking. "It would be more revealing to ask: What sort of men buy sexual services of young women on the street?" said Andrea Gisler, president of Zurich's Frauenzentrale women's group. CHUBBY CHECKER CAN SUE OVER PENIS APP SAN FRANCISCO — Is it trademark infringement to check your chubby? It may be, according to Reuters, which reports that the musician famous for the Twist dance style can sue Hewlett Packard Co. over allegations that the technology company used his trademarked name Chubby Checker on a software application that purports to measure a man's genitals. In a ruling last month, U.S. District Judge William Alsup in San Francisco ruled that Ernest Evans — known professionally as Chubby Checker — can move forward with trademark infringement claims against HP and its Palm unit. HP spokesman Michael Thacker said neither HP nor Palm created the application. "It was removed in September 2012 and is no longer on any Palm- or HP-hosted web site," said Thacker. Chubby Checker first gained fame in 1960 when his recording of The Twist rose to No. 1 on Billboard magazine's hot singles chart where it remained for 18 straight weeks, according to the lawsuit. According to Reuters, HP began offering the Chubby Checker application for sale in 2006. It purports to estimate the size of a man's genitals based on his shoe size, according to the ruling. "The name 'Chubby Checker' is thus used as a vulgar pun," wrote Alsup. The musician informed HP that the application violated his trademark and he sued earlier this year. In an effort to dismiss the lawsuit, HP claimed Evans had failed to allege HP knew of the infringement. Alsup rejected that argument, saying Evans properly alleged that HP had a detailed application and approval process for the application and thus knew it had violated the trademark. LT "Based on the suspect's DNA characteristics, I'd say he's guilty." LSUC BENCHER REMEMBERED Longtime Law Society of Upper Canada Bencher Marshall Crowe has died. The 92-year-old passed away on Aug. 16, law society Treasurer Tom Conway announced last week. "Mr. Crowe was widely respected within the legal profession. In mourning his passing, those who had the good fortune to work with such a bright and dedicated man are grateful for his conMarshall Crowe tributions to the law society and the principles of justice for which it stands," wrote Conway. Crowe's contribution to his country began well before the start of his legal career, according to Conway. Crowe served in the army during the Second World War and as a foreign-service officer with the Department of External Affairs, an economic adviser for the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, and deputy secretary to the federal cabinet serving prime ministers Lester Pearson and Pierre Trudeau. Crowe won election as a bencher in 1994. He also served as a director of LawPRO. "When I reflect on his significant career achievements before becoming a lawyer, it is no wonder that he had a treasure trove of fascinating behind-the-scenes accounts of encounters with many significant political and economic figures of his time," wrote Conway. "I would tease him about this, referring to him as our own 'Forrest Gump,' as he was often literally 'in the room' during many of the important encounters between Canadian and world leaders during and after the Second World War." NEW PARTNER AT DICKINSON WRIGHT Dickinson Wright LLP has yet another new partner. The firm announced last week that Willms & Shier Environmental Lawyers LLP partner Cherie Brant has joined its team. "A member of the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte and with family from Wikwemikong First Nation on Manitoulin Island, Ms. Brant is a trusted adviser to both First Nations and industry in the areas of commercial development, real estate, and aboriginal law," the law firm said in a press release. As part of her work, Brant provides strategic advice to clients in the natural resources and energy sectors seeking to develop projects with First Nations communities. LAWYERS SUPPORTING PARKINSON'S EVENT Members of Toronto's legal community are coming together this week to help advance research into Parkinson's disease. "I understand a cure for Parkinson's is not far off relative to other diseases. With additional funding for medical research, I think a cure is within our reach," says Toronto employment lawyer Doug MacLeod, whose firm is a sponsor of the Shake it up for Parkinson's event taking place on Sept. 6 in Toronto. MacLeod is a longtime friend of Harry McMurtry, a fellow lawyer who recovered from brain surgery to treat Parkinson's disease two years ago. Following his recovery, he came up with the idea for a fundraiser with friend Ian Hull of Hull & Hull LLP. "At that time, he said he needed to give back for what was clearly a miraculous operation," says Hull. McMurtry put on a more intimate event last year attended by about 100 friends and family, according to MacLeod. The event has a goal to raise more than $100,000 for the Morton & Gloria Shulman movement disorders centre at the Toronto Western Hospital. Hull, whose firm is also sponsoring the event, says McMurtry is now putting much of the energy he used to put into his legal practice into a new cause. "Harry worked at his busy civil litigation practice as long as he physically could and it wasn't until the disease truly wore him out that he hung up the robes," he says. "He is now advocating for a cure for Parkinson's as strongly as he did for his clients." The event takes place at the Capitol Event Theatre at 2492 Yonge St. in Toronto from 6:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Sept. 6. For more information, see shakeitupforparkinsons.com. LT CANADIAN LAW LIST 2013 YOUR INSTANT CONNECTION TO CANADA'S LEGAL NETWORK Visit carswell.com or call 1.800.387.5164 for a 30-day no-risk evaluation Inside you will find: MORE THAN A PHONE BOOK Untitled-1 1 www.lawtimesnews.com 13-07-05 10:03 AM

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