Law Times

PAGE 16 April 2, 2012 • lAw Times u BIZARRE BRIEFS By Viola James MAN'S TAX RECORDS REVEALED TO ALL OSLO — Now here's a case for the privacy com- missioner to look at. According to Reuters, a 36-year-old business consultant became Norway's best-known taxpayer aſter the government accidentally displayed his re- cords to everyone who logged on to its tax web site. Kenneth Belcovski's name is on every Norwe- gian taxpayer's lips aſter a glitch on the Norwegian government's 2011 tax web site redirected people logging on to check their declarations to a page de- tailing Belcovski's tax details. Belcovski's social security number, earnings, mortgage payments, and other juicy details that will have identity thieves rubbing their hands together were on display. Although Norwegians are able to check some of the income details of public figures online – including the king and the prime minister – the recent breach goes far beyond what is considered acceptable. Belcovski is now known among Norway's five million inhabitants as "Altinn-Kenneth." Altinn is the tax authority's web site. "Today we are all Kenneth" has become a popular catchphrase. In total, some 1,500 to 2,000 Norwegians who logged on to the system found themselves redirected to Belcovski's tax page, Reuters reported. Belcovski declined to discuss the incident when contacted by Reuters. "I don't have anything else to add to what has been reported," he said. Tax authorities, who have apologized for the mis- take, have suspended access to the tax web site until they fix the problem. "We are in dialogue with the person and will do our best to assist him," a tax office spokes- woman said. PINK HAIR BAN OVERTURNED NEWARK, Del. — From prostitution laws to bans on pink hair, constitutional lawyers have lots of is- sues to keep busy with. While the Ontario Court of Appeal was ruling on the constitutionality of Canada's prostitution laws last week, school authorities in Delaware were confronting the legality of a ban on pink hair. But the school that barred a sixth grader aſter she dyed her hair pink with her parents' blessing to celebrate her good grades has now liſted its ban following an outcry from civil rights advocates. According to Reuters, pink-haired Brianna Moore headed back to Shue-Medill Middle School in Newark aſter administrators reversed their deci- sion following a call from the Delaware branch of the American Civil Liberties Union. "We're on our way right now," said Kevin Moore as he drove his 12-year-old daughter to school. At his daughter's request, he helped dye her hair a shade called crimson storm, which has a pink hue, as a reward for improving her grades. But when she showed up for school the next day, she was sent home and told not to return until her hair met school policy mandating a "natural color, brown, blond, black, natural red/auburn." The ACLU soon got in touch with attorneys for the school district and asked, "Don't you think this is unconstitutional?" said Kathleen MacRae, ACLU executive director in Delaware. Moore could return to school with assur- ances she wouldn't face punishment, said Wen- dy Lapham, school district spokeswoman. "The hair is not going to be an issue," Lapham said. HUMAN RIGHTS COMPLAINT OVER ALBINO BRAND VANCOUVER — A Vancouver woman with al- binism has launched a human rights complaint against a restaurant over its "albino" branding of menu items, CBC reported. According to the CBC, Ikponwosa Ero has filed a complaint against Earls Restaurants over its "Albino Rhino" line of beer and "Albino Wings Wednesdays." She alleges the Albino line is demeaning to her and others with albinism. The restaurant, however, says the line wasn't meant to be discriminatory or offensive. "The name was chosen because it was fun and whimsical in sound and denoted something rare and special – we felt proud to have such a beautiful animal, the white rhino, representing our brand," said Mark Barry, vice president of human resources. LT u The INSIDE STORY CCCA CONFERENCES IN MONTREAL The Canadian Corporate Counsel Association will hold two back-to-back conferences in Montreal this month. The 2012 CCCA World Summit will take place April 13-15 just prior to the CCCA national spring conference on April 15-17. Speakers will include author Richard Susskind and lawyer Lucien Boucha- rd on April 15. Ernst & Young Global leader and partner Trevor Faure will speak on the same day. In addition, Air Canada president Richard Susskind and CEO Calin Rovinescu will speak on April 16. Each conference will involve plenaries and concurrent sessions on a u The INSIDE STORY AIRD & BERLIS DONATES AEROPLAN MILES Aird & Berlis LLP has donated one million Aeroplan miles to the Air Canada Foundation. The new foundation, launched Feb. 29, will use the firm's dona- tion to provide flights to children and their parents who need med- ical care at pediatric hospitals such as the Hospital for Sick Children. "We are grateful to Aird & Berlis LLP for their generous donation of one million Aeroplan miles to the newly launched Air Canada Foun- dation," said Priscille Leblanc of the Air Canada Foundation. "These miles will directly benefit the hospi- tal transportation program which uses donated Aeroplan miles to transport ill children and a parent to centres offering medical treatment unavailable in their community." The program uses Aeroplan miles to send people to 15 pediatric hospitals across Canada. "At A&B, we are committed to making a difference in the commu- nities in which we live and do busi- ness," said David Malach, a partner and member of the firm's executive committee. "Our lawyers and staff are pas- sionate about being able to help those who are less fortunate, par- ticularly children who are in need. We are delighted to have the oppor- tunity, thanks to Aeroplan and the Air Canada Foundation, to donate our Aeroplan miles and know that they are being used for such a wor- thy cause." "What a coincidence! I got a robo-call from the court, too, requesting me to appear dressed as a pirate." NEW LAW ON NUCLEAR TERRORISM The federal government intro- duced amendments to the Crimi- nal Code targeting nuclear terror- ism last week. Canadian Lawyer's 2012 Fill out the LEGAL FEES SURVEY annual Legal Fees Survey and get a chance to win an Apple TV. Survey closes April 13. LegalFees_LT_Apr2_12.indd 1 www.lawtimesnews.com 12-03-29 12:55 PM range of topics, including discussions about what the global economic crisis means for business in the European Union. The event will also feature the announcement of the recipient of the Robert V.A. Jones Award for excellence in corporate counsel service. Both conferences will take place at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Montreal. The changes would create a number of new offences, including possessing or trafficking nuclear or radioactive materials or devices; committing an act against a nuclear facility with the intent to compel someone to do or refrain from do- ing something; committing an in- dictable offence to obtain access or control of a facility; and the threat to commit those offences. "This bill would improve our existing approach to counterterror- ism by punishing those who aspire to commit acts of nuclear terrorism," said Sen. Raynell Andreychuk, who introduced the amendments on behalf of Justice Minister Rob Nicholson. MUNDELL MEDAL ANNOUNCED The Ontario government has an- nounced that former Federal Court of Appeal justice Allen Linden and professor Kent Roach are the recipients of the David Wal- ter Mundell Medal. Former attorney general Ian Scott created the award in 1986 to honour exceptional contribu- tions to legal writing. The attorney general awards the medal on the recommendation of a selection committee led by Chief Justice Warren Winkler. In announcing the honour, the government noted Linden's many books and articles, including Cana- dian Tort Law. It also noted Roach's work as a "prolific author." His most recent book examined counterter- rorism efforts around the world. "Each exemplifies the depth of understanding, lurid analytical thinking, and ability to convey so- phisticated concepts simply, that are the hallmarks of the award," Attorney General John Gerretsen said of the two recipients. 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