Law Times

PAGE 16 WillBuilder Tel: 416.322.6111 Toll-free: 1.866.367.7648 doprocess com ntitled-7 1 The LCO TARGETS CROSS-BORDER Canada needs to improve the ef- ficiency of cross-border litigation if it hopes to remain competitive in the global market, concludes a new Law Commission of On- tario consultation paper. "The input received from those working in the area of cross- border litigation both in Canada and elsewhere will be key to ensur- ing that the recommendations are sound and that they will meet the current needs of those most affect- ed," said LCO executive director Patricia Hughes, in a release. The consultation paper was prepared by the LCO in con- sultation with Osgoode Hall Law School professor and LCO scholar-in-residence Janet Walker. Walker worked with a group of private international law special- ists from across Canada in compil- ing her report. The paper ponders provisions for a new statute that would define when courts should accept or decline jurisdiction in cross-border cases. Walker finds that globalization has led to a rise in cross-border cases, but uncertainty over juris- dictional laws means many po- tential litigants are shut out of the court system due to the high cost of arguing such matters. The LCO has included a set of consultation questions in the re- port, and is looking for responses by April 13. The paper is available online at www.lco-cdo.org. SPIRO JOINS FMC TORONTO Fraser Milner Casgrain LLP has beefed up its national tax lit- igation group with the addition of David Spiro as counsel at the Toronto office. "We are pleased David is join- ing our team," said the firm's To- ronto managing partner Chris Pinnington, in a release. "His proven track record in tax mat- ters will be of great benefit to our firm and most importantly our clients. David will broaden our already established tax litigation group, and will help position our firm to meet the challenges 2009 will likely bring. We are commit- ted to providing our clients with trusted counsel with all the exper- tise to meet their changing needs, Reinventing the Will www 1/26/09 3:38:37 PM Inside Story especially in the current economic circumstances." Spiro is known for his work on tax litigation and dispute resolution, and will give clients advice on all tax-related matters, said the firm. MCMILLAN ANNOUNCES COMPETITION CHANGES Bill Rowley has withdrawn from the equity partnership at Mc- Millan LLP and will be replaced by Neil Campbell atop the firm's competition practice. McMillan issued a release stat- ing that Rowley will serve as chair- man emeritus and special counsel to the firm, and will continue to work with the firm as a strategic adviser. He also will keep up his practice in international arbitration at 20 Essex Street Chambers. "During his tenure at Mc- Millan, Bill led the development of one of Canada's top competi- tion law practices," said the firm. Campbell's practice focuses on a wide spectrum of compe- tition matters, including merger clearances, cartel defence, and unilateral conduct. FASKENS INVESTS National law firm Fasken Mar- tineau DuMoulin LLP has announced the creation of the Fasken Martineau Excellence Fund at McGill University's Faculty of Law, a $350,000 do- nation to foster student achieve- ment and research at the school, said the firm. "The fund has two goals, both of which will serve to support individual students at McGill, and not just the institu- tion itself," said the firm's Que- bec managing partner Claude Auger, in a release. "We believe in promoting McGill by funding its intel- lectual capital. The fund will reward scholastic achievement and promote scholarly research by students enrolled in the joint BCL-LLB program." The three components of the fund includes a $7,500 endow- ment for students with distin- guished scholastic records, finan- cial help for research projects, and money for a scholarly journal. LT For more Inside Story, please visit www.lawtimesnews.com cockroach is likely to have serious deleterious personal and professional consequences. However, I should point out that there are areas of specific liability to be determined before we could initiate any appropriate legal remedy." 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 "Well, Mr. Samsa, I certainly concur that waking up this morning turned into a giant REALLY TAKING A BITE OUT OF CRIME WASHINGTON, D.C. — City bus driver Shawn Brim thought he was being really funny when he stepped out of his bus and punched crime mascot McGruff the dog in the chops. Inside the furry McGruff cos- tume was police officer Tyrone Hardy who was handing out fliers to kids on a Washington street. After the hit, Brim, 38, got back into his bus and drove away. He was pulled over shortly thereafter. He's been charged with simple assualt. Supervisors say he will also face drug and al- cohol testing and a review of his employment status. Hardy suffered a bruised cheek but police said he seemed more upset that the incident would have upset the kids. Brim later told a supervisor he was trying to be funny when he punched McGruff, who urges kids to "take a bite out of crime." DRIVING HER BARKING MAD NEW YORK — Lawyer Paulette Taylor has reached the end of her rope with two yapping pooches who live in the apartment below her. She's suing her neighbour and the apartment building for $500,000. According to local newspa- pers, Taylor, 62, said the "whin- ing, barking, yapping, and squealing" from the chihuahuas below was ruining her health. She claims the mini dogs "bark in a manner that is offen- sive, constant, continuous, and incessant." ™ March 9, 2009 • Law TiMes Bizarre could easily trace the debit card. When the cops picked him Briefs By Viola James TIPS ON HOW NOT TO SUCCEED IN CRIME ADELAIDE, Australia — There's always another tale to tell about the not-too-sharp who turn to crime. Two dudes show up to steal a car. All goes smoothly until one locks himself in the vehicle he's trying to steal. The other, seemingly unable to assist his buddy in extricating himself from the locked car, hid in the nearby bushes. Perhaps he just wanted to see how events would unfold. Well, when the owners of the car got home, they found the 53-year-old would-be rob- ber trapped in the car and called the cops. He was arrested and his co- conspirator found in the bushes and taken along for the ride. TIPS ON HOW NOT TO SUCCEED IN CRIME II CHARLESTON, W.Va. — If you fail in your attempts to rip off a convenience store, at least go to another one before you plunk down your debit card for a Coke. That's a lesson learned the hard way by Shawn Thomas Lester. The 33-year-old threat- ened a store clerk saying he had a gun and to hand over all the money in a register. But police said Lester got flus- tered when a customer walked in and the clerk told him to pay for the soft drink. Pay for his drink Lester did, although he did at least have enough wit left to sign his name John Doe. Pity that the police up, Lester told them he was only joking when he said he had a gun and demanded money. The charges of armed rob- bery laid against him, however, are no joke. THE OFFENCE OF LAUGHING WHILE DRIVING LIVERPOOL, U.K. — Gary Saunders was chatting with his brother-in-law on his hands- free while driving and burst out laughing at a joke he was told. Moments later, the dreaded flashing lights of a police car ap- peared behind him. He pulled over only to be told by the police officer "Laughing while driving a car can be an offence." "I couldn't believe it when he told me I'd been pulled over for laughing," Saunders told The Telegraph. "I never took my eyes off the road and was in full con- trol of the car. "I definitely wasn't speeding so I asked what the problem was and he told me I was laughing too much." The whole affair got even wackier, according to Saunders. "It became a bit ridiculous when he wanted to know the colour of my hair as I have alo- pecia and there isn't a hair on my head. "When I pointed this out he asked: 'What colour was your hair when you had some?' "It went from ludicrous to unbelievable. He definitely had a bee in his bonnet about some- thing and I got the brunt of it." In the end, the policeman admitted Saunders had done no wrong, but sent him off to the police station to show his driving documents, forcing Saunders to miss an important meeting. No charges arose from the incident of the laughing behind the wheel. LT

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