Law Times

January 26, 2009

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PAGE 20 Enabling Lawyers through Technology Tel: 416.322.6111 Toll-free: 1.866.367.7648 doprocess com www The Inside Story CIVIL CASE LOAD HIGHER IN 2008 Ontario's civil courts were mod- estly busier in 2007/2008 from the previous year, with Statistics Canada reporting a two-per- cent rise in the caseload. But while the courts dealt with more cases, there were one per cent or fewer added to the list in 2007/2008. Overall, the province's civil courts saw 259,348 cases initiated over the period, versus 261,806 in 2006/2007. In terms of ac- tive cases, there were 481,250 in 2007/2008, up from 469,709 over the previous term. The breakdown of the cases in 2007/2008 was 66 per cent gen- eral civil matters — such as injury caused by motor vehicle, bank- ruptcy matters, and probate cases — and 34 per cent family cases. NEW JUDGES APPOINTED The Ontario Court of Justice has three new judges in its ranks. Justice Robert Beninger has been assigned to the Peterborough area and Durham. Called to the bar in 1984, Beninger has prac- tised criminal and family law. The new judge previously worked as a part-time assistant Crown attorney, standing agent for the federal gov- ernment for the county of Peter- borough, and sole practitioner in private practice. Justice Michael Block, called to the bar in 1988, is a criminal law specialist. He has particular experi- ence representing police officers in Police Act matters, doctors before the Health Disciplines Board, and as an inquest counsel. He will preside in Oshawa. Justice Manjusha Pawagi, who will preside in Brampton, was called to the bar in 1997. The fami- ly law practitioner worked as coun- sel for the Children's Aid Society of Toronto and counsel for the Of- fice of the Children's Lawyer. "The years of experience these new judges bring to the bench will help to strengthen Ontario's justice system," said Attorney General Chris Bentley. "I am confident that they will make significant con- tributions to the Ontario Court of Justice." ACKHURST JOINS OGILVY RENAULT Kevin Ackhurst is the newest member of Ogilvy Renault LLP's business law group, joining the Toronto office's competition/anti- trust team. He has experience advising on Canada's competition and foreign investment laws in a wide range of industries. LT STG_05_LT_BaseBar 8/16/06 8:52 AM Page 1 For more Inside Story, please visit www.lawtimesnews.com "He's been like that all day. Ever since the Globe and Mail printed his appointment notice as Senior Partner in Charge of Crisis Management...on the comics page." At Stewart Title, it's how we work that sets us apart. We deal in title insurance and related products, undertaking no part of the transaction that has traditionally fallen to legal professionals. Since our inception into the Canadian market, you will find that we have consistently combined comprehensive coverage with unparalleled support for legal professionals. We are dedicated to streamlining your practice and increasing your revenue through our programs and innovative technology solutions. At Stewart Title, we know it's our relationship with our customers that determines our success. That's why service is the foundation of our business and integrity, the keystone in all our dealings. Contact us today at (888) 667-5151 or visit www.stewart.ca. www.lawtimesnews.com LINTON NAMED MCLEOD PROFESSOR Hilary Linton of Riverdale Mediation has received the first ever James G. McLeod Profes- sorship in Family Law at the University of Western Ontario's Faculty of Law. The post was created in mem- ory of McLeod, a highly regarded law professor at the faculty and a top family law expert who died suddenly in 2005. She will teach conflict resolu- tion theory and practice for family law matters to second- and third- year law students. OJEN HOSTS MOCK TRIALS A project developed by the On- tario Justice Education Network and delivered with the help of the Toronto Lawyers' Association and Ontario Court of Appeal articling clerks aims to help kids grasp the justice system. "The idea is to educate students about Ontario's justice system by putting together a program that piques their interest," said TLA sec- retary Sam Marr. The program was recently held in Toronto for a group of Grade 5 students. It included two mornings spent learning about the law and legal proceedings, followed by a full mock trial. The students took on the role of lawyers and witnesses, and worked with TLA lawyers to formulate their arguments. "Our students have been very excited about this program and are learning a lot about how the justice system works," said Joyce Public School teacher Chris Lee, who was involved in the program. YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH NEW YORK, N.Y. — It's not that expert witness Dr. Bruce Kokernot wasn't willing to "swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth." He had more of a philosophical objection. When asked to take the oath, he replied, "Um, I do not see truth as a scientific project, I speaking truthfully, it is a search for the truth." But he promised that he wouldn't say anything that was "knowingly not truthful." So Clinton Country Judge Timothy J. Lawliss tailored an oath for the doctor so he could testify in a neglect proceeding. As long as the Kokernot knew that he had a "moral duty to testify truthfully," Lawliss allowed him to stray from the standard oath. The judge made Kokernot affirm that his testimony would be, to the best of his knowledge, "accurate, correct, and com- plete" and that he understood testifying falsely could subject him to contempt proceedings. WEARING A SPEEDO CAN BE CRIMINAL ST. GEORGE'S, Grenada — Police on this tiny Caribbean island are getting serious about enforcing an indecent expo- sure law that bans swimsuits away from the beach. January 26, 2009 • Law Times Bizarre northern Germany. Too bad, so sad for that Briefs By Viola James The conservative country makes it known to tourists and cruise ship passengers that they must dress decently in town, but recently there are those who are flaunting the law, says police commissioner James Clarkson. He says offenders are general- ly just asked to put some clothes on but can be fined US$270 or sent to jail for six months. And it's not just the itty bitty bikini that's troublesome to Grenada's fashion police. As part of the "bringing back morality into the country" campaign, police are also crack- ing down on dudes who wear baggy pants that expose their undies. "Any time you allow law- lessness to start taking effect on your country, you have a problem," Clarkson told Ca- ribbean Net News. A MIGHTY BIG OOPS! BERLIN, Germany — This isn't news to lawyers but there are times when people getting arrested will just outright lie to the police. One German teenager caught shoplifting was trying to dupe the cops by giving them a fake address. It may have worked except for that one-in-a-million chance that the fake address he spouted out just happened to be the home of the investigating officer in the town of Achim in 18-year-old. Thieving and lying. His future may not be so bright. "It was a complete coinci- dence," said a police spokesman. "The thief gave that address because he'd once lived in the house. The policeman was the guy who moved in afterwards." LAW FIRM WITH A SENSE OF HUMOUR CHICAGO, Ill. — It's always nice to see lawyers who don't take themselves too seriously. No one ever said that to do good legal work, you had to be a bor- ing stick in the mud and that's the whole ethos of the Valorem law firm in Chicago. The firm consists of eight "refugees of elite Big Law firm" who believe clients are "entitled to budget certainty." They believe in collaboration, love technology, and efficiency, and "take our work very seriously — ourselves not so much." The firm's web site offers a personal view of their approach to litigation, replete with indi- vidual war stories. But perhaps it's the "cool disclaimer" (www.valoremlaw. com/disclaimer.html) which typifies the firm's style. It begins: "We're lawyers. Al- though we assume that everyone will understand that the infor- mation on this site is intended to make you want to call and hire us immediately, we see that big firms have these fancy disclaimers and we sure like tugging on their capes. . . . So here goes:" It's worth a visit. LT Seen, heard, or been involved in a bizarre brief? Tell Viola James about

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