Law Times

PAGE 20 The Inside Story ARTICLING SHORTAGE TO CONTINUE: REPORT Th e Law Society of Upper Canada's articling task force has found articling shortages to be a long-term and pervasive problem in Ontario, according to a report to Convocation on Oct. 27. "Th e current articling short- ages are not a short-term problem resulting from diffi cult economic times," according to the report. It added that "the problem of unplaced candidates cannot be dismissed as 'the market weeding out weak candidates.'" Other concerns included the lack of lawyers and fi rms able or willing to off er articling place- ments outside of large fi rms and government programs. "If one of the goals of articling is to enhance the competence of candidates for licence by off ering experiences in a range of practice structures, then limitations on the type and number of available placements may undermine that goal," the report found. Th e task force will provide a consultation document on the issue in December or January. It will then submit a fi nal report to Convocation by the spring of next year. RETIRED JUDGE JOINS ADR FIRM Former Superior Court justice Lee Ferrier joined Neeson Arbi- tration Chambers on Nov. 1. In his new role, Ferrier will operate an independent practice and provide mediation and arbi- tration services. Ferrier, who spent more than 25 years as a litigation counsel with a focus on family law, retired from the Superior Court this year. Gregory Cooper, a family law counsel, also joined Neeson Arbi- tration Chambers on Nov. 1. STAFF CHANGES AT FMC Karen Groulx and Brian Cohen are among two staff changes at Fraser Milner Casgrain LLP. In her new role at the fi rm, Groulx will work as a partner in FMC's construction law group, litigation, and real estate groups. She'll also advise on e-discovery matters. Previously, Groulx worked as an associate and partner in the litigation department of FMC's Toronto offi ce. "Karen is a welcome addi- tion to the FMC construction law group," said Mike Kaplan, FMC's managing partner in To- ronto. "With Karen's experience in both negotiating construction contracts and construction liti- gation, she is perfectly placed to provide our clients with practical and strategic advice." At the same time, Cohen joined FMC's wealth manage- ment group last month. In his new role, Cohen will fo- cus on estate planning, trusts, and personal taxation. "Brian will be invaluable in helping to lead the fi rm's growing tax and estate planning practice for high net-worth individuals," said Kaplan. "Brian's extensive ex- perience and commitment to his community greatly aligns with FMC's values and is a signifi cant asset to our fi rm. We are very pleased Brian has decided to join FMC." Cohen is also a contribut- ing editor of Federated Press' Personal Tax and Estate Planning Journal. LSUC DISBARS CORNWALL LAWYER Th e Law Society of Upper Canada has disbarred an Ontario lawyer in part over her fi nancial dealings with clients. In an order issued Oct. 19, an LSUC panel found Cornwall, Ont., lawyer Donna Marie Jones had failed to properly account for money she'd received in trust from two of her clients; failed to immediately deposit funds into a trust account for three clients; and failed to pay a judgment or order of the Superior Court in September 2006. Among other things, the panel found Jones had advised her cli- ent to "nab his preschool-aged children" from his estranged wife and have the woman criminally charged in order to gain an ad- vantage in ongoing criminal and matrimonial proceedings. MOBILITY CHANGE FOR NOTARIES Th e Law Society of Upper Canada approved an amend- ment to the Quebec mobility agreement late last month to ex- tend rights to Quebec notaries. Th e amendment will allow notaries to apply for a Canadian legal adviser certifi cate. If approved for the certifi - cate, they'll be able to give legal advice on the laws of Quebec or federal jurisdiction, legal mat- ters involving public or interna- tional law, and draw up certain documents for cases. For more Inside Story, please visit www.lawtimesnews.com. Recruiting? Post your position on GREAT RATES. GREAT REACH. GREAT RESULTS. Contact Sandy Shutt at sandra.shutt@thomsonreuters.com for details. www.lawtimesnews.com JobsInLaw 1-8 pg 5X.indd 1 2/15/11 4:12:27 PM "It's a big crowd pleaser." COP SUES OVER HAIRY SANDWICH EVESHAM, N.J. — Call it revenge by condiment. A police offi cer is suing a New Jersey delicatessen and a cook who admitted to stuff - ing body hair into the offi cer's bagel sandwich in revenge for a traffi c arrest. According to Reuters, the lawsuit fi led by offi cer Jeremy Merck of the Evesham police department seeks unspecifi ed damages from Good Foods to Go in Marlton, N.J., and its cook, Ryan Burke, for an in- cident that occurred in Febru- ary 2010. Merck ordered an egg, cheese, and turkey bagel and after eating part of it, he found it "was adulterated with pubic, chest or other human hair," the lawsuit alleges. Merck sought medical help and was checked for commu- nicable diseases at a hospital, his attorney, Bruce Zamost, said. None was detected. Burke, who served Merck the sandwich, was later charged with aggravated assault, retalia- tion against a public servant, and food tampering, Reuters reported. He ultimately served 15 days in jail. According to a police re- port from the criminal case, Burke admitted to tearing out hair from his chest and his pubic area and putting in on Merck's sandwich out of anger at the fi nes and le- gal fees incurred due to an November 7, 2011 • Law Times Bizarre Briefs By Viola James arrest in 2009. In 2009, Merck charged Burke with traffi c off ences. Burke later complained the traffi c case cost him $4,400, Reuters reported. A woman who answered the phone at the headquarters of the restaurant chain de- clined to comment on reports that Burke was fi red after the sandwich incident. NAKED DRIVER GOES ON RAMPAGE MOSCOW — A naked and drunk motorist sped through central Moscow last weekend, crashing into 17 cars before being stopped by police who chased him across a large part of the capital, state television said. "When police made him open his door, it became clear he was completely naked," said state TV, showing lines of cars with shattered wind- screens and battered sides. Local media said the man, who appeared to be in his 40s, was from Moldova and showed a picture of him grin- ning in the back seat of a po- lice car. State TV said preliminary tests showed the driver had an "abnormally high" level of alcohol in his system. TV pictures showed dis- tressed drivers with bloodied hands and faces sitting in their cars, but police said there were no serious injuries. "Th e most dangerous part was when he almost hit a bus MAN SHOT OVER TELEPATHIC THREATS CENTERVILLE, Utah — People come up with all sorts of excuses for the harm they do, but claiming self defence based on someone's alleged telepathic threats is taking it up a level. Th e Salt Lake Tribune is re- porting that according to jail documents, a man who alleg- edly shot his neighbour last week claimed self defence due to the telepathic threats. Th e neighbour, Tony Pierce, 41, remained in a battle for his life last week, according to the Tribune. Police arrested Michael Sell- eneit, 53, who has been charged with felony counts of attempted murder and unlawful weapon possession. According to a probable cause statement fi led with the Davis County jail, Sell- eneit told detectives he shot Pierce in self defence. Selleneit claimed Pierce had been "tele- pathically threatening" to kill him and his wife, the Tribune reported. "Selleneit also claimed that Pierce had telepathically raped his wife on many occasions," police wrote in the statement. According to the Tribune, however, police emphasized that Selleneit had been mak- ing such accusations for years. "Centerville police has never found any evidence to indicate that these allegations were true," said Lt. Paul Child of the Centerville police de- partment. LT full of school children," po- lice spokesman Gennady Bo- gachev told state TV, adding that four of the 17 vehicles were police cars. — Reuters

• Cover
• Justicia Extended
• Texting Dangers
• Focus On Family Law