Law Times

PAGE 16 WillBuilder Tel: 416.322.6111 Toll-free: 1.866.367.7648 doprocess com ntitled-7 1 The LAWYER DISBARRED FOR MISCONDUCT Th e Law Society of Upper Canada has disbarred another Toronto lawyer. Terence Aus- tin Kelly has had his licence revoked and must pay the law society $90,000 in costs. A disciplinary ruling found Kelly had engaged in professional misconduct in several ways, in- cluding failing to administer an estate in a timely manner and with proper attention to the in- terests of the benefi ciaries. It also found him to have mis- appropriated or dealt dishonestly with funds belonging to clients or others in relation to a mort- gage and that he failed to provide materials to the law society in the course of its investigation. BLG CELEBRATES 10 YEARS Borden Ladner Gervais LLP is making donations to fi ve chari- ties as part of its 10-year anni- versary celebrations. Ten years ago, BLG was formed after the mergers of fi ve regional law fi rms. It now has more than 750 lawyers. Th e fi rm celebrated this month with offi ce parties at each of its offi ces across Canada and produced a video that cel- ebrated BLG milestones and highlighted the heritage of the original fi rms, according to Ivan Ivanovitch of public rela- tions fi rm Ketchum Inc. Th e fi rm also celebrated by al- locating money to charities that include SOS Children's Vil- lages, United Way, the Stephen Lewis Foundation, the Heart and Stroke Foundation, and the Canadian Cancer Society. Lawyers and staff were allowed to choose which charity their money would go to. LEAF ANNIVERSARY NEXT MONTH Th e Women's Legal Educa- tion and Action Fund will celebrate its 25th anniversary next month by recognizing fe- male lawyers who have made a diff erence to women. Th e event, called Equality Day: A Celebration of Women, Reinventing the Will www 1/26/09 3:38:37 PM Inside Story will be held at the Toronto Ref- erence Library's Bram & Bluma Appel Salon from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. on April 27 and will focus on acknowledging lawyers who have made a diff erence through their cases, by assisting LEAF or advancing women in the law. FIRMS APPOINTED FOR CANWEST EMPLOYEES A Toronto court has appointed Nelligan O'Brien Payne LLP and Shibley Righton LLP as legal counsel for current and former employees of the Can- West media group. Th e endorsement this month by Superior Court Justice Sarah Pepall involves the company's newspaper assets held under Can- West LP. "Th e appointment of the representatives and represen- tative counsel would facilitate the administration of the proceedings and information fl ow and provide for effi ciency," said Pepall. Th e ruling aff ects both current and former salaried employees as well as retirees. ELECTION RULING APPEALED Democracy Watch is taking its battle over the federal govern- ment's fi xed election date law to the Federal Court of Appeal. Th e case stems from a recent Federal Court ruling rejecting the organization's challenge of Prime Minister Stephen Harp- er's decision to call an election in October 2008 despite passing a law setting a date for the next vote on Oct. 19, 2009. In his decision, Justice Michel Shore ruled the law didn't prohibit the prime minister from requesting an early dissolution of Parlia- ment unless the government loses a confi dence vote. Among its reasons for appeal, Democracy Watch argues Shore erred in ruling the law didn't es- tablish a constitutional conven- tion for elections. Th e group has also established a Facebook page, "Canadians Against Snap Elections," to gar- ner support. LT For more Inside Story, please visit www.lawtimesnews.com. "What's going on? Don't tell me Bill 2312, The Election Statute Law Amendment Act, has passed second reading in the legislature!" Visit us online! canadianlawyermag.com & lawtimesnews.com Fresh content delivered weekly. Canadian Lawyer | Law Times | 4Students | InHouse www.lawtimesnews.com Online Ad 1/8 5X.indd 1 12/16/09 9:59:00 AM THREE CHARGES, THREE HOURS LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. — A Pennsylvania man is facing charges in three sepa- rate incidents in the span of three hours. 49-year-old Mark Blaylock of Manheim Township was fi rst charged at around 11 a.m. with theft of services after he allegedly refused to pay a $69 taxi fare. An hour later, he was charged with public drunken- ness after police found a man lying on the road. To top it all off , he was charged with re- porting a medical emergency without good cause, again an hour later. Police said he called 911 and asked them to fi ll a prescription for him. Blaylock is now facing mis- demeanor charges and sum- mary off ences for his alleged escapades, according to Th e Associated Press. SEC FILES SUIT OVER PSYCHIC INVESTMENTS NEW YORK, N.Y. — Sean David Morton, "America's Prophet," is facing legal action fi led by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission claim- ing he's not really a psychic and misled investors at a New York investment fi rm. According to the New York Times, the SEC suit claims Morton lured investors in 2006 at the Delphi Invest- ment Group saying he would use his psychic expertise to ™ march 15, 2010 • Law Times Bizarre Briefs By Viola James guide them to riches. But there was, allegedly, one problem. Th e SEC claims Mor- ton promised to put the money into foreign currency but instead did so with just $3.2 million of the $6 million he received. No one knows where the rest of the money went, but reports say Morton made a $240,000 in- vestment into a religious group he and his wife had set up. Maybe he can now prophe- sy the outcome of the lawsuit. NO MORE PICNICS FOR RETIRED COUPLE CORONA DEL MAR, Calif. — A retired California couple is facing six months in jail and thousands of dollars in fi nes if they defy an order to remove the beach set they've had on their waterfront property for 35 years. A California appeal court has ordered them to remove the picnic spot due to, among other issues, the visual impact on the quality of the coast along Corona del Mar State Beach. Th e ruling comes after a six-year legal battle between the couple and the state. Th e couple, according to reports, has spent $250,000 in legal fees to maintain the picnic area. Now, the couple faces fi nes of $6,000 per day if they fail to remove the picnic table, built- in barbecue grill, and small thatched gazebo. ICELANDERS SUED OVER 'IKEA' KITCHEN NEW YORK, N.Y. — When a wealthy Icelandic couple purchased a swank Manhat- tan apartment they went on to rent out for $312,000, the last thing they likely expected was to be sued over the al- legedly ugly kitchen they in- stalled. Th e plaintiff s are now seeking $52,000 in dam- ages, according to Th e As- sociated Press. Th e owners of the Paramount Realty Group that rented the unit claim the couple committed to renovating a portion of the apartment. According to news reports, the kitchen was allegedly straight out of an Ikea catalogue, which did not make the tenants too happy. In their claim, the plain- tiff s say they've been embar- rassed by the kitchen and have been the victims of rude comments by guests visiting the apartment. WOMAN ACCUSED IN BREAST MILK ASSAULT OWENSBORO, Ky. — A 31-year-old woman who was arrested for public intoxica- tion has been accused of as- saulting a jailer using a rather novel weapon: breast milk. Following her arrest, the woman allegedly sprayed a fe- male deputy in the face with breast milk as she changed into an inmate uniform. Now the woman faces a felo- ny charge of third-degree as- sault on a police offi cer with bail set at $10,000. LT Seen, heard, or been involved in a bizarre brief? Tell Viola James about it at viola.james@ gmail.com.

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