Law Times

November 29, 2010

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PAGE 16 November 29, 2010 • Law Times Bizarre Manage your corporate practice at high speed. www.doprocess.com ntitled-3 1 The LAWYER DISBARRED OVER MORTGAGE DEALS Mississauga 11/23/10 11:03:12 AM Inside Story lawyer Mariano Mazzucco has had his licence revoked after a Law Society of Upper Canada hearing panel found he knowingly assisted in a mortgage fraud scheme worth almost $7 million. According to the fi ndings, Mazzucco was advanced the money for 20 diff erent mortgage transactions. Th e panel found he misapplied the funds by disburs- ing them to other participants in the fraud scheme, himself, and clients he owed money to. Mazzucco was also given 30 days to pay the law society $5,000 in costs. GOWLINGS PARTNER TO HEAD CFIA PANEL Th e federal government has ap- pointed Gowling Lafl eur Hen- derson LLP partner Ronald Doering to chair a ministerial advisory board to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz said the panel of seven in- dustry experts would strengthen Canada's food safety system in the wake of Ontario's 2008 list- eriosis outbreak. "Th is outstanding group of individuals will be a vital, external source that will advise on how to further strengthen our food safety system," Ritz said. "Th is highly qualifi ed and diverse advisory board builds upon our govern- ment's increased investments, hiring of more inspectors, and enhanced listeria testing." Doering was president of the CFIA from 1998 to 2002. In ad- dition to more than 35 years of experience in law, public policy, and administration, he has broad experience in all aspects of food and agricultural law, including labelling, recalls, biotechnology regulation, plant protection, and animal health. SABA HONOURS RAJ ANAND Th e South Asian Bar Asso- ciation has presented its 2010 Distinguished Career Award to WeirFoulds LLP partner Raj Anand. Anand is a senior civil liti- gation, administrative, and hu- man rights lawyer as well as a Law Society of Upper Canada bencher. He is a former chief commissioner of the Ontario Human Rights Commission and was recently appointed by the Ontario government to set up the Human Rights Legal Support Centre. "We all congratulate Raj on this achievement and hope the South Asian Bar Association might plan to create a 'Longer Distinguished Career Award,' for which he is eminently qualifi ed," said Lisa Borsook, managing partner at WeirFoulds. EZRA LEVANT TO PAY $25K FOR LIBEL On Ontario judge has ordered free-speech advocate Ezra Levant to pay $25,000 for libelling Canadian Human Rights Commission lawyer Giacomo Vigna. Superior Court Justice Rob- ert Smith said Alberta-based Le- vant's "reckless disregard" for the truth in his comments mocking Vigna made them malicious. Smith found Levant had de- famed Vigna six times in blog posts between March and May 2008, including occasions on which he accused the lawyer of lying to the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal, switching evi- dence, and being fi red. Vigna had been prosecuting Marc Lemire in a case related to hate speech on the web site free- domsite.org. In May 2007, an ad- journment was granted because of Vigna's undisclosed illness and security fears. He was later re- placed by another lawyer. Months later, Levant used the episode as part of what Smith called his "ul- terior purpose of denormalizing the Human Rights Commission across Canada." Smith rejected Levant's at- tempt to use the new respon- sible communication defence because he hadn't done enough to check his facts or get Vigna's side of the story. For more Inside Story, please visit www.lawtimesnews.com. Get more online Canadian Lawyer | Law Times | 4Students | InHouse | Legal Feeds lawtimesnews.com • canadianlawyermag.com www.lawtimesnews.com Visit Us Online 1-8-5X.indd 1 2/28/11 2:37:34 PM Fresh Canadian legal news and analysis every day FAKE DOCTOR GIVES FREE BREAST EXAMS BOISE, Idaho — A bar is an odd place for a doctor's offi ce, needless to say. An Idaho woman who used to be a man has been charged with two counts of practising medicine without a licence, ac- cording to Reuters. Th e fake doctor was accused of provid- ing at least two women with a breast exam and consultation session in downtown Boise bars and nightclubs. Authorities allege 37-year- old Kristina Ross posed as a plastic surgeon named Berlyn Aussieahshowna while per- suading victims to let her touch their breasts. In the meantime, Ross would allegedly give vic- tims the phone number of an actual surgeon's offi ce. As a result, the women called the medical offi ce to confi rm ap- pointments with Dr. Aussieah- showna for both consultations and actual surgeries. Th e offi ce received numerous phone calls asking for Dr. Aussieahshowna, who doesn't exist, before alert- ing authorities. GUN OWNER NO PALIN FAN VERMONT, Wis. — We were pretty upset, too, but this is a little extreme. Reuters reports that a Wis- consin man has been charged with reckless endangerment and use of a dangerous weapon Briefs By Viola James after shooting his TV. At the time, Steven Cowan, 67, was outraged over Bristol Palin's success on TV's Dancing With the Stars. According to Reuters, Cowan's wife Janice told police her husband was watching Pa- lin's unimpressive performance when he became upset after she was voted into the show's fi nal round. Apparently, he doesn't think Sarah Palin's daughter is a good dancer. After loudly cursing at the TV, Cowan allegedly grabbed his shotgun and fi red a round into his TV screen. Th e act then sparked a 15-hour stand- off between him and police, after which he surrendered. HIGH-END DINE-AND-DASH LONDON, England — At least this scammer has good taste. A man in London has been accused of dining at several of the city's top restaurants be- fore leaving without paying his enormous tabs. Th e Latvian- born 27-year-old is accused of pulling off his tasty scam on three separate occasions at three diff erent establishments, according to Reuters. In fact, the man allegedly ran up charges of more than 349 pounds (approximately $560) at the Glass House restaurant; 965 pounds (about $1,560) at the Connaught Hotel; and TEEN BURGLAR FALLS ASLEEP ON FLOOR ORLANDO, Fla. — A teen- age burglary suspect made it easy for police to catch him. After responding to reports of a sliding door that was forced open, Florida police found the teen asleep on the bedroom fl oor. According to the Orlando Sentinel, the homeowner claims his home had been broken into several times in the few days prior, but reports didn't disclose what, if anything, was stolen. 17-year-old boy was charged with burglary. After waking up, the LT CORONER HOPES TO REVIVE GIFT SALES LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Th e Los Angeles morgue isn't usually the top spot on Cali- fornia's must-see list, but offi - cials at the coroner's offi ce are hoping to make its gift shop an attraction. According to Th e As- sociated Press, the county coroner's offi ce is reporting that sales at the gift shop are down. Nevertheless, it's wait- ing on a fi scal report from county auditors before going forward with a plan to pro- mote its trademarked line of merchandise. Th e line, which will be available at the gift shop, will feature items like water bottles labelled as bodily fl uids and beach tow- els with chalk outlines. 1,021 pounds (nearly $1,700) at London's L'Oranger French restaurant between Oct. 14 and Nov. 15. Now that's a whole lot of caviar. LT "No doubt about it. Bill was the dean of the real estate bar. And he sure had a soft spot for the Condominium Act."

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