Law Times

PAGE 16 WillBuilder Tel: 416.322.6111 Toll-free: 1.866.367.7648 doprocess com ntitled-2 1 The WOMEN'S COURT SEEKS PAPERS The Women's Court of Can- ada is calling on lawyers, le- gal academics, and activists to produce papers for its growing list of reconstituted Supreme Court of Canada equality decisions. This time, the group is look- ing for a rewrite of 2008's R v. Kapp and 1989's Andrews v. Law Society of British Colum- bia, both of which deal with the analysis for adjudicating claims under s. 15 of the Char- ter of Rights and Freedoms. "More than 20 years of rights equality jurisprudence appear to have brought us full circle, providing an opportune moment to reflect on what we have learned over these two de- cades of equality rights litiga- tion and advocacy and to put forward alternative visions of the framework for applying the s. 15 guarantee," read a release from the organization. The Women's Court wants the papers to be no more than 10,000 words and encourages authors to focus on "particular aspects of the analytical frame- work under s. 15." Those interested in partici- pating can e-mail a one-page abstract to Diana Majury at diana_majury@carleton.ca by Oct. 1. UNLICENSED SOFTWARE PROMPTS BIG FINES A group of 12 Canadian compa- nies has been slapped with more than $431,000 in damages by the Business Software Alliance for using unlicensed copies of software on computers. "These settlements demon- strate that even well managed organizations need to pay care- ful attention to software licens- ing requirements, especially during challenging economic times," said BSA Canada Committee chairman Michael Murphy. The Canadian Copyright Act sets fines of up to $20,000 for each software title that is illegal- ly copied. The companies that reached the settlements with Reinventing the Will www 2/2/09 10:53:45 AM Inside Story the BSA also agreed to delete all unlicensed copies of software; purchase licences needed to en- sure compliance; and improve their management of software. LAW FIRM WANTS HOUSES HAUNTED A Lindsay, Ont., law firm hopes to raise funds for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Kawartha Lakes, attract tourists, and build community spirit through a Halloween house-decorating contest. Wards LLP is offering a first-place prize of $10,000 in the contest with half of the pro- ceeds directed to the Boys and Girls Clubs. The entirely web-based con- test will include an online vot- ing system. More information on the contest is available at www.wardlegal.ca. The firm said it hopes the contest will make the town Canada's "Halloween central." BRENNER JOINS FARRIS FIRM Former Supreme Court of British Columbia chief justice Donald Brenner has signed on to practise dispute resolution with Farris Vaughan Wills & Murphy LLP. "We are honoured and de- lighted that Don Brenner has decided to join Farris," said the firm's chairman, Keith Mitch- ell. "His wise counsel will be available to our lawyers and our clients." Before being called to the province's Supreme Court bench in 1992, Brenner focused his practice in the areas of avia- tion, professional indemnity, and products liability. He also serves as director and vice chairman of the Van- couver Foundation, consid- ered Canada's largest commu- nity foundation with assets of $800 million. The move marks a return to the firm for Brenner, who spent a summer at Farris in 1968 while a law student. LT For more Inside Story, please visit www.lawtimesnews.com. "This one wants to structure the deal as a 35¢ cash payment with a contingent value rights clause mandating a further 56¢ once the burger has been independently verified as consisting of at least 50% bovine material, then proceeding to a 2% equity acquisition in his kid's lemonade stand if it doesn't taste like sodden cardboard." 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 A HARD WAIT TRABZON, Turkey — A Turkish court has delayed the verdict and sentencing of a woman who allegedly chopped her lover's penis off so authori- ties can determine if the reat- tached organ still works. Court sources say that if the 28-year-old regains use of his penis within 18 months, the sentence will likely only be three years. However, if the reattach- ment doesn't take, the man's 39-year-old former lover will be sentenced to eight years. "To determine which crime was committed, we first need the report," a source close to the case told local media. "We'll continue holding hearings in the trial from time to time until we receive the report." The woman told the court the man had broken his prom- ise to marry her, forced her into prostitution, and beat her. Surgeons worked for 11 hours to reattach the penis in an operation they described as successful. They said full sexual function should return within six months. According to newspaper re- ports, the defendant told the court she cut off her former lov- er's penis and threw it onto the roof of a neighbouring building while he was drunk. WHAT'S IN A NAME, YOUR HONOUR? EVERETT, Wash. — A judi- cial candidate's worst challenge ™ September 21, 2009 • Law timeS Bizarre Briefs By Viola James may be overcoming his name after the recent heckling of U.S. President Barack Obama in Congress. Joe Wilson opened his non- partisan campaign for a vacant seat on a Washington state court just a day after U.S. Rep- resentative Joe Wilson gained notoriety by blurting out "you lie" during Obama's health-care address to the U.S. Congress. While the judicial candidate had nothing to do with the out- burst, those logging on to his Facebook page don't seem to know. Initially, "it was quite fun- ny," campaign manager Jen- nifer Rinaldi told local media. "Joe was like, 'Look at all those people who are interested in my campaign.'" Practically everyone who mistook candidate Wilson — a Washington state native whose father was a judge on the same bench — for the congressional heckler has been from outside the state, "from back east to Alaska," Wilson said. NOT YOUR AVERAGE LOVE MACHINE NEW YORK, N.Y. — A high- powered New York lawyer lost $1,600 while using a bank machine in a seductive scam targeting the Big Apple's young and eligible men. The the women memorize the pin numbers and offer to take the men home. On the way home, the women pickpocket the un- suspecting men and then clean out their bank accounts. A trio of sexy scammers ripped off dozens of single guys, picking them up at high-end nightclubs and pickpocketing their wallets and phones, cops said. The seductive suspects lured in as many as 50 victims by offering to drive them home or to late-night parties, accord- ing to police. The victims include a New York University professor and a prominent attorney. The three women — all in their 20s — were busted after allegedly swip- ing $1,600 from the lawyer. CAUTION: DRUNK MAN CROSSING MUNICH, Germany — A motorcyclist who collided with a drunken pedestrian dur- ing Oktoberfest was partly to blame because she should have expected inebriated revellers on the road, says a German court. The biker was travelling within the legal limit when she hit a man who was crossing the road against a red light. The court ruled she "was 50 per cent responsible" for the accident. "During the October (beer) festival, there are, it is well known to the authorities, a large number of drunk people on the streets at night who can- not always be trusted to observe the rules of the road," the court said. "The motorcyclist should have adjusted her speed to be able to avoid these people." LT hoax sees attractive women sidling up to men us- ing the machines to get out cash. According to reports, Seen, heard, or been involved in a bizarre brief? Tell Viola James about it at viola.james@gmail. com.

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