Law Times

PAGE 16 OcTOber 18, 2010 • Law Times Bizarre #1 Power House application for real estate. www.doprocess.com ntitled-2 1 The LSUC OPENS DOORS TO KIDS The Law Society of Upper Can- ada is hosting Take Our Kids to Work Day to give wannabe law- yers and paralegals in Grade 9 an overview of the steps required to join the legal profession. The interactive program will take place on Nov. 3 at Osgoode Hall and will also be recorded and broadcast online. A range of speakers will give the students insights into a day in the life of a judge, a criminal lawyer, a Crown attorney, and a family law practitioner, among others in the justice system. Students who attend must come with an adult. Interested parents can reserve a spot online at ecom.lsuc.on.ca/kidstowork be- fore Oct. 28. NEW ADDITIONS AT GOWLINGS' U.K. OFFICE Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP has boosted its London, England, office with the addition of Michael Taylor, a former part- ner at the London-based interna- tional firm Norton Rose LLP. Taylor joins the firm's energy, infrastructure, and mining group a week after Gowlings unveiled another boost to its expertise in the energy area by hiring Robert Armour, a former in-house coun- sel for British Energy Group. Taylor had been a partner at Norton Rose since 1979. "We're thrilled to have Michael join our growing London office," Andrew Oppenheim, Gowlings' London managing partner, told The Law- yer. "Gowlings has a breadth and depth of energy knowledge that makes us trusted advisers to se- nior executives across the energy sector. Michael brings with him deep experience and knowledge of energy and project finance, both of which will certainly be an asset to our clients." QUEEN'S LAUNCHES LABOUR LAW CENTRE Queen's University has launched Canada's first research centre for workplace law. The Law Foundation of Ontario kicked in $185,000 to get the Centre for Law in the [ Untitled-5 1 9/22/10 10:12:01 AM Inside Story Contemporary Workplace up and running. The university hopes it will train the next gener- ation of labour and employment lawyers and scholars. "Several areas of law inter- sect in today's workplace," said Queen's Faculty of Law dean Bill Flanagan. "That intersection will be at the heart of the new centre. It will serve as a catalyst for research and curriculum development, for reflection and dialogue. Drawing on existing faculty strengths and attracting visiting experts, we are creating a gathering place and re- source centre for researchers, prac- titioners, and policy-makers." Professor Kevin Banks, aca- demic director of the centre, sees it as a timely innovation in a rap- idly changing area of law. "An un- precedented number of Canadi- ans participate in the workforce, and the quality of workplace re- lations matters more than ever to them and to the success of their employers," he said. "This centre aims to help define how labour and employment law can contin- ue to advance workplace justice in ways attuned to today's economy and society." FEDS PONY UP FOR CHILD VICTIMS The federal government has an- nounced funding to create and enhance child advocacy centres across Canada in an effort to bet- ter serve young victims of and witnesses to crime. "The government is com- mitted to supporting victims of crime, particularly the most vulnerable among us — our children," Justice Minister Rob Nicholson said in announcing the $5.2 million in funding over five years. Child advocacy centres involve a collaborative team of profession- als who work in a child-friendly setting to help victims and wit- nesses navigate the criminal jus- tice system. The goal is to reduce the emotional and mental harm to the child while potentially im- proving the quality of evidence brought forward in trials. LT For more Inside Story, please visit www.lawtimesnews.com. VISIBLE POT LANDS MAN IN TROUBLE ST. CLOUD, Fla. — If you're going to grow marijuana at home, you might want to make sure passersby can't see your plants. It seems obvious, but investigators nevertheless found 17 plants up to two metres tall growing in front of a St. Cloud-area house. After arriving at the home to investigate, agents with the Osceola County Investigative Bureau found the plants that were easily visible from the road, according to WOFL Fox 35. The weed was grow- ing in planters in front of the house, which the homeowner had allowed investigators to search. Authorities have now charged Bryan Hartman, 45, with cultivation of cannabis. GORILLAS, CHICKEN ON HUNT FOR BIKES LONG ISLAND, N.Y. — With identity at the heart of many criminal prosecutions, it might seem reasonable for three bike thieves to dress up as gorillas and a chicken. It's hard to tell if the inci- dent had anything to do with Halloween, but a teen's bike is now gone as a result. Accord- ing to The Associated Press, the teen was riding on Route 25A last week when the trio approached him. Two were Briefs By Viola James dressed as gorillas, while the third was wearing a chicken outfit. Sadly, one of the gorillas hit the teen in the head and knocked him off the bike. In the meantime, the chicken took off on the bike while the two hairy accomplices fled the scene. Fortunately, the teen was able to leave the hospital after suffering minor injuries. WITNESSES SUE OVER WHALE KILLING ORLANDO, Fla. — In a lawsuit the defendant claims "reads more like a press release than a legal pleading," a New Hampshire family is suing SeaWorld for emotional trau- ma it suffered while watching the killing of whale trainer Dawn Brancheau. According to WESH, Suzanne and Todd Connell and their son "looked on in horror" as killer whale Ti- likum pulled Brancheau into the water. At the time, they were about 10 metres from the trainer and had just shot home video in the moments before her death. As a result, they're suing SeaWorld for negligence and damages for emotional trauma. According to WESH, the lawsuit said the Connells' son "saw the look of horror and des- peration on Dawn's face when she was swimming for her life" and "cried so profoundly that his face turned red, then a shade of blue." The lawsuit also claims Brancheau made a "deep, positive impression" during her performance, an emo- tional connection that created even more stress as the family watched her die. Lawyers for SeaWorld, however, are seeking to dis- miss the case given that, they allege, it would "open the courtroom doors for every other opportunistic claimant who witnesses an accident." They continue: "If a cause for action existed here, it would exist for thousands of football fans who witness the death of a player due to a hel- met alleged to be negligently designed. It would exist for thousands of fans who see a singer collapse at a concert due to alleged negligent over- medication." STIFFED PROSTITUTE FACING CHARGES CINCINNATI, Ohio — A prostitute who allegedly called police after getting stiffed by a john might not have real- ized that, unlike in Ontario, authorities are maintaining a firm stance against the sex trade. According to the web site cincinnati.com, the woman originally phoned police to report that hostages were be- ing held at gunpoint. It wasn't true, and when officers arrived at a motel last week, they ar- rested two women on prosti- tution charges. Accused of the crime are Megan C. Taylor, 20, and Donna Toure, 34. Taylor is also facing a charge of inducing panic for allegedly making the false report. LT "Unfortunately, Dr. Hellstrom, the genetic code sequence that would compel a giant man-made bacterium to get back in her test tube has been patented by another company. But maybe we can get a restraining order." Commercial and Residential Title Insurance 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. Keeping real estate transactions where they belong – in your office! Call us today at (888) 667-5151 or visit www.stewart.ca. www.lawtimesnews.com 7/19/10 2:39:54 PM ]

• Cover
• Legal Pioneer
• Radical Ideas
• Focus On Insurance Law