Law Times

PAGE 20 The Inside Story KITCHENER LAWYER TO STAND TRIAL Kitchener, Ont., criminal defence lawyer Hal Mattson has been committed to stand trial on a charge of obstructing justice. Mattson, 56, is facing accusa- tions of trying to infl uence the testimony of a potential witness prior to a hearing in an attempted murder case last October. "I was hoping it wouldn't hap- pen," Mattson told the Record newspaper. "But we'll deal with it." Th e committal followed a two-day preliminary hearing that included testimony from Tyson Holmes, the man Matt- son allegedly tried to infl uence during the early stages of a case involving fi ve people charged with attempted murder and drug off ences last year. Holmes received a one-year jail sentence for drug traffi cking in the same case after attempted murder charges against him were dropped. Mattson didn't represent any of the fi ve people charged in the case. A trial date hasn't yet been set. MNP SIGNS DIVERSITY PLEDGE A Call to Action Canada has un- veiled MNP LLP as the latest sig- natory to its mission statement. Th e chartered accounting and business consulting fi rm is one of the biggest of its kind in Canada. Signatories to the mission encourage statement diversity and inclusion in the legal profes- sion by insisting that their outside law fi rms demonstrate a commit- ment to and progress in the full participation of women and mi- norities in the workplace. "Our fi rm has always fostered a workplace which embraces diversity," said Daryl Ritchie, CEO of MNP. "It's not just about recruiting a diverse workforce but how you demonstrate your commitment by respecting and celebrating all cultures and view- points. MNP serves a very diverse client base and our hiring prac- tices have always mirrored that." LAWYER DISBARRED OVER FRAUDS Toronto lawyer Th angavel Muthali Kesavan has lost his li- cence to practise due to his role in a mortgage fraud. A Law Society of Upper Canada panel found Kesavan participated or knowingly as- sisted in fraudulent conduct by vendor and purchaser clients to obtain mortgage funds in 12 separate transactions. Th e panel also found him guilty of misconduct for failing to be honest with his lender clients and failing to disclose material facts to them. In ad- dition, Kesavan, a 2003 call, must pay $5,000 in costs to the law society. LAWYER JOINS MILLER THOMSON Savvas Kotsopoulos has joined Miller Th omson LLP as a part- ner in the fi rm's real estate group. Kotsopoulos, a 2003 call, will be based out of the fi rm's Toron- to offi ce. His practice focuses on commercial real estate transac- tions, including purchases and sales, development, commercial leasing, and fi nancings. He also has experience in mergers and acquisitions that involve signifi - cant real estate portfolios. LFO AWARDS 2 FELLOWSHIPS Th e Law Foundation of Ontar- io has awarded two new fellow- ships to collaborative projects that address access to justice and legal rights related to people with disabilities. Sheila Burns, a specialist and advocate in the fi eld of fetal alcohol spectrum disor- der, will spend 10 months at Georgian College working to help prevent people with it from becoming involved with the criminal justice system and improve diversion rates and outcomes for those who do. "In the justice context, we need to shift the focus from in- carceration to sustainable support and services," said Burns. Marian MacGregor, clinic director for the Community and Legal Aid Services Pro- gram at York University's Os- goode Hall Law School, will spend seven months develop- ing an intensive clinical pro- gram in disability law. "Th e impact of disability, often combined with poverty, can create serious access to jus- tice barriers," said MacGregor. "Th is new program will pro- duce lawyers who are better equipped to meet the distinct needs of clients with disabilities, as well as involving students in the systemic change that needs to take place." LT For more Inside Story, please visit www.lawtimesnews.com. "Excuse me! Who's the Internet porn law certifi ed specialist in this offi ce?" Get more online Canadian Lawyer | Law Times | 4Students | InHouse lawtimesnews.com • canadianlawyermag.com www.lawtimesnews.com Visit Us Online 1-8-5X.indd 1 9/27/10 3:21:40 PM Fresh Canadian legal news and analysis every week NUDISTS TOLD TO COVER THEIR SEATS SAN FRANCISCO — So much for San Francisco's reputation as a liberal city. According to Reuters, San Francisco supervisor Scott Wiener has introduced an ordinance that would require nudists to cover their seats in public places and wear clothes in restaurants. Public nudity, he explains, is legal in San Francisco. But in recent years, a group known informally as Naked Guys has shown unbridled enthusiasm for appearing in the nude. "I see it pretty regularly, and unfortunately there are nudists who are not doing what they should," Wiener told Reuters. Th e nudists have got Wiener and others worry- ing about public health. "I'm not a health expert, but I be- lieve sitting nude in a public place is not sanitary," he said. "Would you want to sit on a seat where someone had been sitting naked?" Wiener, who represents the Castro neighbourhood, said he hears from merchants who fear the public displays may drive away customers. Th at's particularly true in restaurants. Weiner, who acknowledged that he hasn't seen any research establishing a health risk, said: "But when September 19, 2011 • Law timeS Bizarre Briefs By Viola James you have your orifi ces ex- posed in an eating establish- ment, a lot of people don't like it." California does have legis- lation against indecent ex- posure. But the law is lenient enough that it has barely af- fected San Francisco's current coterie of fl aunters. Weiner's proposed ordin- ance will next be assigned to a committee. He expects a public months. hearing within ACCUSED SUMMONED AS JUROR AT OWN TRIAL SCHENECTADY, N.Y. — Talk about a reasonable ap- prehension of bias. A man on trial for murder received a jury duty sum- mons for his own trial, the Times Union reported. In referring to the sum- mons, Schenectady County Judge Richard Giardino said the accused, Derrick Smith, told him he'd be happy to be on the panel. When Giardino men- the tioned Union. His issue in court, Smith nodded and smiled, according to the Times lawyer, Mark Gaylord, confi rmed Smith had received the letter. Giardino also noted Smith told him he could be fair and impartial if selected, the Times Union reported. Smith is on trial for WAS ATTACKER A VAMPIRE? ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A Florida woman who al- legedly claimed to be a vam- pire has been charged with battery after violently biting a man in a wheelchair on his face and arms, according to police. Milton Ellis, 69, told po- lice in St. Petersburg, Florida, that he and Josephine Smith, 22, met on the street and went to the porch of a vacant restaurant to get out of the rain. He said he fell asleep in his motorized wheelchair and woke up to fi nd Smith on top of him. Ellis told authorities that she said, "I'm a vampire. I am going to eat you ," and then began to bite him. According to a police af- fi davit, Ellis was bitten on his arm and lips, leaving him bloody before he was able to escape and call police. He was later treated with stitches at a local hospital and released. After arriving at the scene, police said they found Smith bloody and half-naked near- by but that she had no mem- ory of what happened and did not identify herself as a vampire, St. Petersburg Po- lice spokesman Mike Puetz said. Smith, who has since been arrested, is currently being held in detention with bail set at $50,000. — Reuters LT allegedly killing Michael De- veaux Jr. after a June 27 bar fi ght. He, along with Charles Louviere, is facing charges of second-degree murder and weapons possession.

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