Law Times

PAGE 16 WillBuilder Tel: 416.322.6111 Toll-free: 1.866.367.7648 doprocess com ntitled-2 1 The LAO ANNOUNCES ADVOCACY TRAINING Legal Aid Ontario has announced the lineup for its 2009-10 Con- tinuing Legal Education lun- cheon series. The Brown Bag Series targets lawyers working for govern- ment, those with legal aid clinics, sole and small firm practitioners, and counsel working on legal aid certificates. The Advocates' Soci- ety, LAO, Department of Justice Canada, and Ministry of the At- torney General put on the series. "We provide the speaker and lunch; you supply the enthusiasm," read the LAO announcement. "Each presentation will feature demonstrations and discussions by experienced litigators on practical topics that will enhance your skills as an advocate." Each program costs $45. DEADLINE NEARS FOR OBA PROGRAM The Ontario Bar Association will soon close the door on applicants to its pilot mentorship program. The OBA is looking to fill its roster of participants on both sides of the equation — as mentors and mentees. The deadline for registra- tion is Aug. 21. "The underlying goal of the pro- gram is for participants to develop meaningful relationships and to en- courage candid conversation about life and law," said the program's co- chairwoman, Alayna Miller. While mentees must be lo- cated in the Central East Region, the OBA is seeking mentors from across the province. Applica- tions are available at www.oba.org/ mentorship. NEW FACES ON THE BENCH The federal Justice Department has filled gaps on the Superior Court bench following recent supernumerary elections and a retirement. Scott Campbell, a partner with Gibson Linton Toth Campbell & Bennett, in Tillsonburg, has been named to replace Justice Ronald Haines, in Windsor. Haines had elected to become a supernumer- ary judge effective last January. Campbell received his LLB from the University of Western Ontario in 1976, and was called to the Ontario Bar in 1978. He became a partner with Gibson Lin- Reinventing the Will www Inside Story ton in 1980, moved to the Crown side in 1987 as an assistant deputy Crown attorney, and was named a deputy judge of Small Claims Court in 1988. Campbell also worked as a standing agent for the federal Jus- tice minister since 1994. He prac- tised primarily in the areas of civil litigation, criminal law, real estate, corporate commercial law, estate planning, and administration. Martin James, a lawyer with Desmarais Keenan LLP, in Sud- bury, replaces Justice W.J.L. Bren- nan, in Pembroke, who elected to become a supernumerary judge ef- fective last March. James received his law degree from the University of Ottawa in 1979, and was called to the bar in 1981. He was a lawyer with Desmarais Keenan from 1981 to 2009. James' practice focused on civil and commercial litigation, business law, construction law, municipal law, and insolvency. Wendy MacPherson, a part- ner with Martin Sheppard Fraser LLP, in Niagara Falls, has been ap- pointed to replace Justice Robert Reilly, in Kitchener, who elected to become a supernumerary judge as of last month. MacPherson was named a part- ner with Martin Sheppard in 1989. She began her career with the firm as an articling student in 1983. She was a panel member with the Office of the Children's Lawyer since 1995, and prac- tised family law. Meanwhile, Justice Helen Pierce has been appointed Region- al Senior Judge, Northwest Region (Thunder Bay) for the Superior Court. She replaces Justice John McCartney, who retired from that position effective July 31, 2009. Pierce was appointed to the court in 2001. She received her LLB from Queen's University in 1980, and was called to the bar in 1982. Before being appointed to the bench, she worked with Wishart Noble Barristers & So- licitors, in Sault Ste. Marie from 1980 to 1985, with Douglas Gaetz Barrister and Solicitor from 1985 to 1990, and as a sole practitioner in Sault Ste. Marie from 1985 to 2000. LT For more Inside Story, please visit www.lawtimesnews.com "Oh oh! Looks like Ooog's invented legal aid. Anybody here up for inventing funding?" WHICH DIRECTION IS BEST FOR YOU? RainMaker Group 110 Yonge Street, Suite 1101 Toronto, Ontario M5C 1T4 Untitled-7 1 Tel: 416-863-9543 Fax: 416-863-9757 www.rainmakergroup.ca www.lawtimesnews.com 5/29/08 1:05:49 PM ™ augusT 10/17, 2009 • Law Times Bizarre 2/2/09 10:53:45 AM HOW ABOUT FURLONGS TO THE HOG'S HEAD? OTTAWA — A California man has been slapped with a hefty speeding fine claiming he thought Canadian speed-limit signs were in miles. The man was driving at 148 kilometres per hour, roughly 90 miles per hour, when On- tario Provincial Police stopped him on Highway 401, north of Kingston. When police questioned the driver he told them he thought the limit was 100 miles per hour. The man was clocked by OPP aircraft radar. There was no word on how long he was speeding for. There was also no explanation for why he wasn't driving 160 kilometres per hour, the metric equivalent of 100 miles per hour. THERE'S ALWAYS WORK FOR LAWYERS NEW YORK — A U.S. college graduate has launched a $70,000 lawsuit to recoup education costs because she can't find a job. The information technol- ogy graduate of the Monroe College in New York told NY1 television, "I need full-time job placement and that's what they said they were going to help me with and they didn't . . . The IT career counsellor sent me about three e-mails saying 'Oh, I have this job opening, you should ap- ply for it.' That's it." The claim was filed with the New York State Supreme Court for the amount the Briefs By Viola James student paid for her education. A spokesman for the college said the lawsuit was "completely without merit." ONE EXPENSIVE TWEET CHICAGO — A woman has been sued for $50,000 by a property management company for defamation resulting from a tweet on Twitter. The offending posting says, "you should come anyway. Who says sleeping in a moldy apart- ment was bad for you. Horizon Realty thinks it's okay." Horizon Group Manage- ment filed a lawsuit against the poster saying her statement damaged the company's busi- ness reputation. According to the complaint filed in Cook County court, the tweeter "maliciously and wrongfully published the false and defamatory tweet on Twit- ter, thereby allowing the tweet to be distributed throughout the world." POLICE SAVE THIEF FROM BEAT DOWN ROME — Police rescued a sus- pected thief after a pair of tourists turned their martial arts training on him. The man swiped a hand- bag from a family of Korean tourists visiting the Theatre of Marcellus, one of the monu- ments in Rome's historic centre. When the family spotted him the would-be bandit allegedly threatened them with a knife. Two family members, men in their 20s, gave chase finally catching the man. Instead of calling the police they dis- armed the man, got him on the ground, and continued to beat him using taekwondo moves. Police later arrived to save the alleged robber. "I must thank you, they were massacring me," the 48-year-old man told police after he was arrested. The handbag was later re- turned to the family so they could continue their Roman odyssey. FIRST SMOKING-BAN MURDER SARUHANLI, Turkey — A res- taurant owner has been shot dead for trying to make his customers comply with a new Turkish law banning smoking in restaurants. Restaurateur Hidir Karayigit, 46, told a group of men to put out their cigarettes in accordance with the new law and a fight broke out. Karayigit took away the group's cigarettes and was shot four times as a result. The establishment is a "mey- hane," a Turkish restaurant that al- lows alcohol consumption. Upon hearing the news the town's mayor said he was saddened the "first smoking-ban murder" happened in Saruhanli. He suggested the nation-wide ban introduced by Turkey's government on July 19 covering indoor smoking, includ- ing bars and restaurants, might not have been the best idea. "They either shouldn't have outlawed smoking or they should have outlawed alcohol along with smoking," the mayor said. Turkey has one of the high- est smoking rates in the world. More than half the country's population between the ages of 15 and 49 smoke. LT Seen, heard, or been involved in a bizarre brief? Tell Viola James about it at viola.james@gmail. com.

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