Law Times

www.lawtimesnews.com Page 20 March 3, 2008 / Law TiMes leGal maRkeTiNG lauNCH The legal marketing associa- tion has officially launched a To- ronto chapter, after the group held its inaugural meeting Feb. 21. "The legal marketing commu- nity in Toronto is the largest in Canada and is largely under-ser- viced when it comes to network- ing and professional development opportunities locally," says board member and Osler Hoskin & Harcourt llP director of client development Nanette matys. "Our board was excited to have the opportunity to help launch a new platform for legal marketing professionals in Toronto by work- ing with the LMa to establish a chapter here." The LMa is a not-for-profit organization that aims to maintain the professional standards of mar- keters in the legal profession. The organization is based in Illinois and is made up of over 3,000 mar- keters, lawyers, administrators, consultants, and suppliers to the industry from 11 countries. while there have long been LMa members from the Toronto area, Matys says the establishment of a Toronto chapter is overdue. Since receiving official chapter status in December 2007, the lo- cal group has amassed nearly 60 members, she says. "we know [in 2008] there is pent-up interest and excitement in Toronto for what our new LMa Toronto chapter can offer," says Matys. During the launch at the St. andrew's Club & Conference Centre in Toronto, over 80 people attended to hear BTi Consulting principal marcie Borgal Shunk speak on key legal industry trends and proven best practices. CBa WaNTS GiTmO ClOSeD The Canadian Bar association has joined with 34 bar leaders from across the globe to pressure u.S. President George W. Bush to close the country's prison facility in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. "Few governmental operations by democratic countries have shown such a profound disrespect for the rule of law," says CBa president Bernard amyot. "Guantanamo Bay has come to signify injustice for some at the hands of the powerful." amyot and the other bar lead- ers signed a joint letter criticizing the U.S.'s actions in Guantanamo Bay but maintained their opposi- tion to the scourge of terrorism. "By calling for the closure of Guantanamo, we do not detract from the horror of acts of terror- ism in the U.S. or other countries," says the letter. The CBa notes the only citi- zen of a western country currently detained at Guantanamo Bay is Canadian Omar khadr. Other western nations have repatriated their citizens. In light of this, amy- ot is calling on Prime minister Stephen Harper to ask for Khadr's transfer to Canadian law enforce- ment custody. "Transferring Omar Khadr to Canada is not synonymous with impunity," says amyot. "we do not deny that some of those de- tained at Guantanamo may have committed criminal acts. If so, they should be tried by a properly constituted court operating under rules that guarantee a fair trial." FeDS GiVe FuNDS FOR DRuG COuRT ClieNTS The federal government has an- nounced it will give $200,000 over two years to help provide transi- tional housing for individuals in- volved in cases at the Drug Treat- ment Court in Toronto. "Supportive housing is a key de- terminant of health that provides the foundation for recovery," said Dr. Paul Garfinkel, president and CEO of the Centre for addiction and mental Health. CaMH will receive the federal funds and work with the John Howard Society to give short- term, supportive housing to those involved in the court program. Drug Treatment Courts are set up to reduce crime associated with drug dependency. They supply court-monitored treatment and community support for offenders battling drug addictions. "This government's new two- track approach is tough on drug crimes and also compassionate for the victims addicted to drugs," says minister of Justice and attorney General of Canada Rob Nich- olson. "Drug Treatment Courts are an example of how these two approaches can work together to provide treatment to addicts while ensuring community safety." LT The Inside Story Confidential NOT a limP-WRiSTeD laWyeR aT all FORT LaUDERDaLE, Fla. — Commercial litiga- tor Kathy Brewer Rentas' handshake is so fierce, she's facing criminal charges af- ter her hand clasp with the lawyer prosecuting her hus- band's case. Brewer Rentas, 49, was at- tending a court hearing for her husband, anthony, who was sentenced to 90 days un- der house arrest for violating the terms of his probation. after the hearing, she asked to shake hands with prosecu- tor Jennifer Keene. Keene agreed, apparently to her peril. according to a report by a U.S. marshall, Brewer Rentas made an up- ward, then a quick down- ward motion, pulling Keene toward the ground. The prosecutor's head and neck were snapped forward and then backward as a result. Brewer Rentas has been charged with assaulting a federal officer and could face up to a year in prison and possible sanctions by the Florida bar. She claims she didn't mean to hurt the woman, but was arrested, spent a night in jail, and was released on bail. She was ordered to stay away from Keene and undergo a psychological evaluation to determine whether she needs anger-management training. iT SuRe SmellS FRuiTy iN HeRe ROTTERDaM, Netherlands — Jailed criminals exposed to the scent of oranges appeared to be less aggressive and vio- lent, a new study found. Rotterdam police said the four-week study suggested that criminals, many of them violent drug pushers, were calmer, more malleable, and had fewer fights when the fruity odour was circulated through cell air vents. The head of police social services, Herma Heester, told the Daily Telegraph: "It's amaz- ing; fighting in the cells has been dramatically reduced, and we are using 10 per cent fewer sedation drugs." Rotterdam has one of the highest crime rates in the Netherlands, with violent, drug-related crimes account- ing for more than half of ar- rests. The experiment has been extended for a further six months. NO DWaRF-TOSSiNG laW SCuTTleS PlaNS NEw YORK — Howard Stern's sidekick Beetlejuice is going to have to make other plans for Saturday night now that he knows dwarf bowling is against the law. Beetlejuice, who is Les- ter Green, planned to host a dwarf-bowling party at Big Nose Kate's Saloon in Rich- mond Valley, N.Y. However, it's been illegal for 20 years for an alcohol-licensed busi- ness to host dwarf-tossing or dwarf-bowling events. "In a civilized community, we can't say, 'Let's roll with that. Let me pick a team,' If we do, the Romans were saints compared to us," Stat- en Island borough president James P. Molinaro told the Staten Island Advance. "They don't get hurt. They like that [stuff ]," Beetlejuice said. Big Nose Kate's owners could face a $10,000 fine and have the bar's liquor license revoked if they break the law. DeaD — ON aND OFF NaSHVILLE, Tenn. — ac- cording to various U.S. gov- ernment departments, Laura Todd has been dead on and off for the past eight years. In the real world, she's still alive and kicking. The latest insult to her lively-hood came last week when she filed an electronic tax return to the IRS and it was rejected. "One time when I [was] ruled dead, they canceled my health insurance because it got that far," she told a local TV station. Todd's struggle started with a typo at the Social Secu- rity administration. She said the government has assured her since the problem that they have delet- ed her death record, but she said the problems keep crop- ping up. according to a government audit, Todd's problem is not an anomaly. The SSa has had to resurrect more than 23,000 people in a period of less than two years. LT Bizarre Briefs By Viola James Enabling Lawyers through Technology Tel: 416.322.6111 Toll-free: 1.866.367.7648 www doprocess com For more Inside Story, please visit www.lawtimesnews.com Office Products Deal Pacesetter High Bright Multipurpose Paper dyedurhambasics.ca • 1-888-393-3874 • Fax: 1-800-263-2772 Choose Dye & Durham your ONE source supplier Premium Multipurpose Paper compatible with Litho, Mono InkJet, Copier, Laser and Fax printers. Jam free. Acid free. 20lb. Extra White - 98 Brightness. Offer expires March 31st, 2008. 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