Law Times

December 8, 2008

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PAGE 16 Enabling Lawyers through Technology Tel: 416.322.6111 Toll-free: 1.866.367.7648 doprocess com www The Inside Story LSUC HIGHLIGHTS WOMEN'S RIGHTS The Law Society of Upper Can- ada continues its Equality Public Education Series this week with a Dec. 9 discussion on women's equality rights in African and Canada. The event — held to recog- nize International Human Rights Day — will feature leading hu- man rights advocates from both countries. It is jointly hosted by the LSUC, Progress and Op- portunities for Women's Equal- ity Rights: Africa/Canada, and the Gordon Henderson Centre for Human Rights at the Uni- versity of Ottawa. HEENAN BLAIKIE UNVEILS MERGER Heenan Blaikie LLP last week an- nounced that it has merged with the intellectual property firm of Ivor Hughes, adding 11 experi- enced IP lawyers, patent agents, and trademark agents to its practice. "This merger demonstrates our belief in the value of intellec- tual property," said Heenan Blai- kie's national co-managing part- ner Norman Bacal, in a release. "In this troubled economy, many firms and companies are scaling back their operations. As a firm, we are committed to serving our clients effectively and efficiently. All the more so in these challenging times. Our goal is to continue to add value in areas where our clients require protection and advice." The firm noted that Hughes' practice targets patent, trade- mark, copyright, and industrial design applications, along with licensing agreements and litiga- tion related to IP infringement. "This merger with Heenan Blaikie is the best way to con- tinue doing the work we love," said Hughes. "Our teams share a passion for offering creative and imaginative solutions to protect our clients' intellectual property. Our clients will now also benefit from Heenan Blaikie's national perspective and expertise in other important practice areas." E-LAWS NOW THE LAW Ontario is now among the first ju- risdictions in Canada to consider its legislation web site an official source of law. "E-Laws provides Ontarians with easy access to Ontario's laws," said Attorney General Chris Bentley, in a release. "Making e-Laws an official source of law recognizes the reality of today's modern technological environ- ment. Eliminating our reliance on printed publications not only makes the law more accessible but does so in a cost-effective and en- vironmentally friendly way." The ministry also noted that Ontario was the first province to publish its statutes and regu- lations online, starting in 2001. E-Laws are accessible through Justice Ontario. The laws published online be- came official sources of law on Nov. 30, via a stipulation in the Legisla- tion Act, 2006. The new rule ap- plies to the Source Law, Current Consolidated Law, and Period in Time Law databases on e-Laws. KYOTO LAWSUIT NOW ON APPEAL Friends of the Earth has resumed its legal battle with the federal government over Kyoto Proto- col commitments, notifying it of an appeal of the recent Federal Court decision in the case. "If NO MOCKERY GOES UNPUNISHED SINGAPORE — A judge in Singapore was not amused when three men showed up to watch a court hearing wear- ing T-shirts sporting a decal of kangaroos in judges robe. They were charged with contempt of court in May and last week, Isrizal Bin Mohamed Isa and Muhammad Shafi'ie Syahmi Bin Sariman were sen- tenced to seven days in jail, while Tan Liang Joo John re- ceived 15 days imprisonment. They were each ordered to pay S$5,000 (C$4,117) in costs. Tan is the assistant secre- tary-general of the opposition Singapore Democratic Party, led by Chee Soon Juan. The three had dressed up for a hearing on what Chee Soon Juan and his sister Chee Siok Chin were to pay after being found guilty of defam- ing Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and former leader Lee Kuan Yew. Singapore's attorney gen- eral said in bringing the case to court the trio had "scandalized the Singapore judiciary." the Federal Court's de- cision was left unchallenged, Canada's woeful inaction on the climate change crisis would be allowed to continue despite do- mestic law that clearly states the government must act," said Eco- justice lawyer Hugh Wilkins, in a release. "We simply cannot stand by while the government picks and chooses which laws to enforce. All of our laws must be upheld — even the ones the gov- ernment finds inconvenient." The lawsuit was launched in June and seeks a court declaration that the government failed to meet legal requirements of the Kyoto Protocol Implementation Act. The act called on the government to fol- low a plan to meet Kyoto targets, on top of putting into force regulations to fight climate change. "We are looking to the Federal Court of Appeal to provide more guidance on the issue of justicia- bility," said lawyer Chris Paliare, who is working the case with Friends of the Earth. LT For more Inside Story, please visit www.lawtimesnews.com. "He should have hired the IP elves before we wrapped the presents." 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 UH HUH WASHINGTON, D.C. — Ernest L. Dixon is no stranger to the courts in this area, apparently. He claims he's a retired ad- miral and reports his home address as 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. in Washington, D.C. That's the White House, for those who didn't know. December 8, 2008 • Law Times Bizarre Briefs By Viola James Dixon's most recent bid for cash was rejected by U.S. District Court Judge James Robertson last week. The old "admiral" was seek- ing $500 million — oh yeah! — from the Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles over its ap- parent unwillingness to rein- state Dixon's drivers licence. After taking due note of Dixon's "home" address, the judge dismissed the claim as frivolous. BREAKING ALL THE RULES RENO, Nev. — There are a few rules — written and un- written — that judges on the bench need to keep in mind. Let's go over a few: • don't fall asleep during a trial, especially in front of a jury; • don't make improper con- tact with jurors; • don't treat your staff like servants; • don't make misleading and improper statements to the press. None of these are revelatory, I'm sure, especially to our es- teemed colleagues on the bench in Canada. However, one Ne- vada judge didn't quite get them and she's now been chucked off the bench for good. On Nov. 17, the Nevada Commission on Judicial Dis- cipline ordered Judge Eliza- beth Halverson permanently removed from the bench. She'd been suspended since July 2007 but was still collect- ing her $130,000 per annum paycheque. In its 28-page decision (which you can read at judi- cial.state.nv.us/Halverson Find- ings of Fact Conclusions of law. pdf), the commission rakes Halverson over the coals not- ing, "Some judges are in office for an entire career and do not accumulate the type of dismal professional history that the record in this case establishes." The elected judge fell asleep three times in front of juries, in the first few months of her career, not even after a lifetime of these types of trials. She also made her bailiff massage her feet, neck, and shoulders. She also yelled and screamed foul language at other staff. But perhaps her most egre- gious error was after having contact with a deliberating jury, the judge shifted the blame for her error to lawyers "by mak- ing unethical contact with the media," the decision said. In another instance, the de- cision says Halverson was try- ing to demonstrate there was a conspiracy against her. "The import of the charge is that Judge Halverson knowingly lied to a reporter, albeit about a serious administrative matter, and in doing so she essentially accused three well-respected judges of misbehaving." Sadly for Halverson, during the course of the proceedings to remove her from the bench, her husband attacked her with a frying pan. She required 100 staples to close the wound. Edward Halverson now faces charges of attempted murder. LT Seen, heard, or been involved in a bizarre brief? Tell Viola James about it at viola.james@gmail. com.

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