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PAGE 20 WillBuilder Tel: 416.322.6111 Toll-free: 1.866.367.7648 doprocess com ntitled-2 1 The CLA CALLS FOR INTERPRETATION PROBE The Criminal Lawyers' As- sociation has called for an inquiry into Ontario's court interpretation services. The move comes after the Ministry of the Attorney Gen- eral revealed 34 per cent of 225 court interpreters tested were now unaccredited because they failed its new proficiency test and a further 31 per cent had gained only conditional accreditation because of a partial failure. "The dismal results of these proficiency tests risk bringing the administration of justice into disrepute," said Paul Burstein, president of the CLA. "In a very real sense, a person who does not understand the proceedings be- cause of inadequate interpreta- tion does not get a fair trial." Burstein wants the ministry to identify cases where inad- equate interpretation may have led to miscarriages of justice. "The ministry could start by simply identifying those cases in which interpreters who have failed the tests had provided the interpretation at trial," he said. NEW PARTNERS AT FMC Fraser Milner Casgrain LLP has added two new partners at its Toronto office. Sandra Walker joins FMC's national competition and an- titrust group, while Vivek Bakshi takes his place in the national energy and corporate/ commercial groups. "Sandy's depth of experience in competition, antitrust, and foreign-investment review law make her an ideal fit for our firm and our clients," said Barry Zal- manowitz, a member of FMC's national partnership board. After graduating from Ox- ford University, Bakshi worked for an international law firm in London and Tokyo before im- migrating to Canada. "Vivek's global experience and knowledge of the energy sector will be of great value to our di- verse client base," said Douglas Crowther, head of the firm's national energy group. Reinventing the Will www 2/2/09 10:53:45 AM Inside Story LEAF CELEBRATES EQUALITY DAY The Women's Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF) will celebrate its 25th anniversary with an event honouring 15 fe- male lawyers who have helped advance legislation promoting gender equality. The event on Equality Day this Tuesday will also pay tribute to LEAF's seven founders. Equality Day marks the day in 1985 when s. 15 of the Char- ter of Rights and Freedoms came into force, guaranteeing every in- dividual equality before the law. The event, to take place at the Toronto Reference Library's Bram and Bluma Appel Salon from 6:30-9:30 p.m., will recog- nize lawyers who played important roles in landmark legislation, such as pay equity, sexual harassment, and maternity leave benefits. In its 25 years, LEAF has in- tervened in more than 150 cas- es before the Supreme Court of Canada to challenge laws and policies that discriminate against women. For a list of honourees, visit leaf.ca. LAWYERS PERFORM SHAKESPEARE CLASSIC A cast of lawyers will tread the boards for two nights in a fundraiser for a Toronto theatre company. The Lawyer Show will feature 28 lawyers performing William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream on June 11 and 12 at the Berkeley Street The- atre. The proceeds will go to the Nightwood Theatre, which is devoted to the promotion of women's theatre. The production of the clas- sic play features both men and women, drawing its cast from all sections of the legal profession, including sole practitioners, Bay Street lawyers, and paralegals. In addition to ticket sales, a silent auction held after the show will raise funds for Nightwood. For tickets, call 416-944-1740, extension 5. LT For more Inside Story, please visit www.lawtimesnews.com. "Punitive damages is 50 bucks extra." THERE IS A DIFFERENCE RainMaker Group 110 Yonge Street, Suite 1101 Toronto, Ontario M5C 1T4 Untitled-5 1 Tel: 416-863-9543 Fax: 416-863-9757 www.rainmakergroup.ca www.lawtimesnews.com 3/23/10 11:35:15 AM SAUCY BURGLAR FACES CHARGES MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A Mem- phis man has been charged with aggravated burglary after police were able to link him to the crime by the hot sauce stains on his shirt. Police arrested William Hor- ton after a homeowner returned to his house on the afternoon of April 18 only to find the front door pried open. Upon further investigation, he discovered ap- proximately $650 worth of pos- sessions was missing, including a generator, cologne, and sun- glasses. There were also several bottles of hot sauce smashed against the wall. The homeowner then alleg- edly saw Horton sneaking out of his yard towards a gas station. He followed him after calling police, who arrived shortly af- ter. When officers approached Horton, his clothes were stained with hot sauce, the Memphis Commercial Appeal reported. MAN LOSES DRIVER'S LICENCE, PRIDE ESSEX, England — Paul Hut- ton has been given a manda- tory three-year driving ban after police pulled him over as he drove an electric Barbie car while intoxicated. Hutton, 40, was given the ban because he had received a previous drunk-driving prohi- bition within the past 10 years. The car, which has been ™ April 26, 2010 • lAw Times Bizarre Briefs By Viola James confiscated by police, can be easily outrun by a pedestrian and was hardly big enough for the grown man to fit inside it. "You have to be a contor- tionist to get in it and then you can't get out," Hutton said. After appearing before the lo- cal magistrate, he admitted in The Telegraph to being a "complete twit" and driving the car while drunk. He claimed he and his son had been working on the car as a project and he couldn't resist the urge to take it for a spin. "Originally it was a pink Bar- bie car, but I put bigger wheels on it. But it's not fast," he said. PHILLIES FANS RUIN FAMILY OUTING PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — A police captain and his two daughters experienced first- hand just how unruly Philadel- phia baseball fans can be after one too many beers. Capt. Michael Vangelo and the girls, aged 16 and 11, took in the Phillies game on April 14 hoping for a fun-filled evening. However, it wasn't meant to be. Vangelo says as soon as his family sat down, they were harassed by numerous unruly male fans sitting nearby. "They were yelling vulgari- ties, obscene language," Vangelo told NBC Philadelphia. "I had beer thrown on me and water and then one indi- vidual started spitting at the back of my daughter's chair and he actually spit on my 11-year- old daughter." Ushers promptly ejected the fans after Vangelo complained. The worst, however, was yet to come. A fan, identified as Mat- thew Clemmens, 21, leaned over the 11-year-old's chair, stuck his fingers down his throat, and vomited on the girl and Vangelo, police allege. Sur- rounding fans who moved in to hold Clemmens down were also vomited on. Clemmens faces a number of charges, including aggravated assault and resisting arrest. HARD TO FINGER THESE FUGITIVES DENVER, Colo. — Bill Jor- dan's good deed went all bad when he went out to buy an Apple iPad. Jordan, 59, went to the Ap- ple store at the Cherry Creek Mall in Denver a couple of weeks ago to buy an iPad for a Canadian pal. He left the store with the bag wrapped securely around his hand. According to police, surveil- lance footage shows two young men following him out of the store. While walking towards the parking garage, he felt a "vi- olent tugging" on his arm and looked down to see a teenager yanking on the bag. "He was almost sitting on the ground. He was pulling so hard, and it was still tied around my fingers . . . and then finally he gave it one big jerk. And that's when he stripped the skin off my pinky, and it went right down to the bone," Jordan told Denver's CBS4. Jordan learned from a hand surgeon that part of the pinky would have to be amputated. The iPad wasn't recovered. LT