Law Times

PAGE 16 WillBuilder Tel: 416.322.6111 Toll-free: 1.866.367.7648 doprocess com ntitled-7 1 The LFO SEEKS 'CONNECTING REGION' The Law Foundation of On- tario is looking for applications from community organizations as part of its efforts to create what it calls a "connecting region" of legal services. The organization envisions the entity as consisting of a group of legal and non-legal organiza- tions coming together to create a means of delivering legal infor- mation, referrals, and services to linguistic minorities or residents of rural areas. The LFO says successful orga- nizations will receive funding to assist with their efforts to work with other members of the con- necting region. Applications must be submit- ted by Jan. 22, 2010. More de- tails are available online at www. lawfoundation.on.ca/connecting_ region_Invitation.php. LSUC HOSTS KIDS AT OSGOODE The Law Society of Upper Canada hopes to give Grade 9 students an outline of the path to becoming a lawyer or paralegal at its upcoming Take Our Kids to Work at Osgoode Hall event. Students participating in the interactive program will act as the jury in a courtroom demonstra- tion put on by lawyers and an Ontario Court of Justice judge. Presenters at the event in- clude Justice Mavin Wong of the Ontario Court of Justice; Erinn O'Marra, an assistant Crown attorney for the Region of Peel; Michael Lacy of Lacy Barristers; Alyssa Manning of Vandervennen Lehrer; Cettina Cornish, counsel at the LSUC; and Stephen McClyment, se- nior investigation counsel at the law society. The event takes place from 2-3:30 p.m. on Nov. 4 at Os- goode Hall, 130 Queen St. W. The event also will be webcast. Participation must be reserved online by Oct. 29 at ecom.lsuc. on.ca/kidstowork. [ Reinventing the Will www 1/26/09 3:38:37 PM Inside Story MCCARTHYS INTERVENES McCarthy Tétrault LLP has helped a coalition of groups get leave to intervene before the Su- preme Court of Canada in the case Prime Minister of Canada, et al v. Omar Ahmed Khadr. The firm said it acted pro bono on behalf of Lawyers Without Borders Canada, the Barreau du Québec, and the Groupe d'études en droits et libertés de l'Université Laval. "We are proud to be partici- pating in this very important Canadian debate, which ad- dresses complex constitutional, human rights, and interna- tional law questions," said Iain Scott, chairman and CEO of McCarthys in Toronto. A Canadian citizen, Khadr was taken prisoner in Afghani- stan at the age of 15 and has been detained since 2002 at the United States' Guantanamo Bay military prison. He has sought judicial review of the Canadian government's policy and its decision not to seek his repatriation. MOVES AT HEENAN BLAIKIE Heenan Blaikie LLP says recent moves to bulk up its national infrastructure, public-private partnership, and construction practices reflect the need to cre- ate "highly integrated, multidis- ciplinary legal teams." "The addition of four new senior lawyers in Toronto and Montreal enhances our leader- ship in the infrastructure space and adds considerably to our project development and financ- ing capabilities," said Ilan Dun- sky, co-chairman of the firm's infrastructure and public-private partnership practice group. The firm has recently added lawyers Geza Banfai, Joel Wat- son, Roger Stuart, and Howard Krupat to the practice group. LT For more Inside Story, please visit www.lawtimesnews.com "Boy! Media scrums sure aren't as much fun since Google digitized the defence bar." Keeping real estate transactions where they belong – in your office. ] 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 lawyers/notaries. Since our inception into the Canadian market, you will find that we have consistently combined comprehensive coverage with unparalleled support for lawyers/notaries. 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. WANT A DIVORCE? TRY SUNTANNING INSTEAD TERENGGANU, Malaysia — Couples in the eastern Ma- laysian state of Terengganu who are ready to file for divorce are being asked to take a second honeymoon instead. In an effort to lower the soaring divorce rate in the state, the government is offering the $440 vacations complete with counselling. "We can understand newlyweds having problems understanding one another where a slight skirmish could lead to a separation, but it is unacceptable for those mar- ried more than two decades to file for divorce," Tereng- ganu welfare community de- velopment and women affairs committee chairman Ashaari Idris said. The conservative Muslim state didn't disclose divorce rates. Idris said the state had carried out a successful pilot project where 25 couples fac- ing marital woes were selected for a three-day honeymoon package costing 1,500 ringgit or $440 per couple. Malaysia is a predomi- nantly Muslim country. Un- der Islam, divorce is allowed but frowned upon with the Prophet Muhammad saying ™ OctOber 19, 2009 • Law times Bizarre Briefs By Viola James that ending marriage was, in the eyes of God, the most dis- tasteful lawful act. A SHARPLY DRESSED MAN NEW YORK — A career criminal with a string of hit- and-run robberies to his name escaped from the Manhattan Supreme Court by masquer- ading as a lawyer. Ronald Tackman, 54, was awaiting trial when he slipped into a holding area for pris- oners. A prison guard saw the sharply dressed man and reportedly said, "Counsellor, what are you doing here?" At this point, Tackman was essentially free to go. During his escape, he wan- dered into a courtroom where Anthony Marshall, son of the late socialite and philanthro- pist Brooke Astor, is facing trial for allegedly embezzling millions from his mother. But there, Tackman had some- thing of a meltdown as he be- gan screaming about nuclear bombs, say media reports. The fuss sent Marshall and his wife, Charlene, scrambling downstairs to their car. Not long after, surveillance footage showed Tackman exiting the north entrance of the building. Tackman, who is not con- sidered especially dangerous, has a long history of escape attempts. In 1985, he tried to commandeer a prison van crossing the Brooklyn Bridge using a rubber-band-powered zip gun he had made out of a comb and metal tubing. Ear- lier, he attempted a similar trick with a fake gun carved out of soap. And what about Tackman's current whereabouts? His lawyer, Joseph Heinzmann, seemed to suggest his client might prove an elusive prey for police. "I don't know where he is," said Heinzmann. "But he's a very intelligent man." UP IN SMOKE ESSEX COUNTY, Ont. — A truck driver faces fines of more than $300 for smoking in his vehicle because police consider it his workplace. An officer gave the 48-year-old trucker a $305 ticket after allegedly spotting him driving on a highway in southwestern Ontario with a cigarette in his mouth. The Smoke-Free Ontario Act, adopted in 2006, prohib- its lighting up in an enclosed workplace or enclosed public area. The rules extend to work vehicles, said Const. Shawna Coulter of the Ontario Provin- cial Police in Essex County. "We enforce the legislation, and this truck driver was in violation of that," she said. LT Seen, heard, or been involved in a bizarre brief? Tell Viola James about it at viola.james@gmail. com. Call us today at (888) 667-5151 or visit www.stewart.ca. Untitled-8 1 www.lawtimesnews.com 9/8/09 2:43:34 PM

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