Law Times

PAGE 16 Enabling Lawyers through Technology Tel: 416.322.6111 Toll-free: 1.866.367.7648 Real Estate • Corporate • Estates www doprocess com The Inside Story LAO RECOGNIZES BARBARA JACKMAN Legal Aid Ontario last week pre- sented Toronto lawyer Barbara Jackman the Sidney B. Linden Award, an honour bestowed each year to "exceptional individuals who demonstrate a commitment to en- suring access to justice for low-in- come people," according to LAO. "Barbara Jackman's reputation of being one of Canada's most ef- fective advocates for immigration and refugee rights makes her the ideal candidate for the 2008 Sid- ney B. Linden Award," said se- lection committee chairman Aly Alibhai in a release. "She embodies the spirit of this award through her tireless work en- suring access to justice for disadvan- taged people across the province." Jackman has practised law for some 30 years, during which time she has been dedicated to initiatives aiding people in low-income brack- ets by promoting immigration and refugee rights. "Ms. Jackman is dedicated to public service and to her commu- nity," said LAO. "She works tire- lessly taking on groundbreaking cases to bring about changes in the law to protect the rights of immi- grants and refugees. She continues to take legal aid cases, is a mentor, as well as a leader and a member of various community associations." Jackman has been an instructor in the bar admission program and a lecturer at law faculties at Queen's University, the University of To- ronto, and Osgoode Hall. She also has lectured at continuing education sessions for the Law Society of Upper Canada and the Canadian Bar Association, and has written extensively. She re- ceived an honourary doctor of law degree in 2007 from the LSUC. LEX MUNDI UNVEILS PRO BONO GUIDE Lex Mundi's pro bono committee has launched a guide it hopes will give member firms a framework for developing pro bono work, programs, and culture. "'The Guide for Pro Bono Ser- vices of Lex Mundi Member Firms' is the first step in the Lex Mundi pro bono committee's overall mis- sion, which is to encourage and enhance the delivery of pro bono legal services by Lex Mundi mem- ber firms, both individually and to- gether, by providing strategic guid- ance, advice, and resources to firms able at: http://www.lexmundi.com/ images/lexmundi/PDF/ProBono/ ProBono_Guide.pdf. in developing and implementing pro bono policies and programs of the highest quality as well as pro- viding a liaison between the mem- ber firms and the Lex Mundi Pro Bono Foundation," said commit- tee chairman Paul Schabas, whose firm Blake Cassels & Graydon LLP is Lex Mundi's member firm for Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec. A free copy of the guide is avail- AG TAKES AIM AT JUSTICE SPEED The Ministry of the Attorney Gen- eral has picked Ontario Courts of Justice in Newmarket, North York, and London as "action sites" to speed the wheels of justice. "Our expert teams will be A DANGEROUS WEAPON — WITH HUNDREDS OF LEGS KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia R. Prabakaran seems to have been having some sort of a dispute with his neighbour. In some neighbourhoods, such disagreements could end up being settled at the end of a barrel, but not so in the Ma- laysian city of Johor Baru. Prabakaran, 21, has been charged with attempting to cause harm with a dangerous weapon — a creepy crawly one at that. Prosecutor Mazri Mohamed working closely with all justice par- ticipants in these three courthouses initially — but the goal is to identi- fy, test, and implement approaches that will make criminal justice fast- er province-wide," said Attorney General Chris Bentley. "We're committed to making the justice system more effective for everyone — victims, witnesses, and the public who pay for it." Regional Senior Justice alleges Prabakaran unleashed four centipedes and other bugs in his neighbour's bed last week following an argument. He allegedly climbed through the neighbour's roof to deposit the beasties. It wasn't known if the centipedes were of a poi- sonous variety. Prabakaran has pleaded not guilty and has been released on bail, Mazri said. If found guilty, Prabakaran could end up spending three years in prison and getting a caning. Bruce Durno and Senior Crown Attorney Ken Anthony will lead teams working on the initiative, which is the next step in the gov- ernment's Justice on Target pro- gram, according to the ministry. NEW HIRES FOR FMC Fraser Milner Casgrain LLP has beefed up its commercial practice in Montreal by appointing two new lawyers, Kiriakos Vanikiotis and Benoit Pepin. "The addition of Mr. Pepin OY, THAT'S FOR CLEANING THE CAR! THOMAS TOWNSHIP, Mich. — A local resident driving past a neighbourhood carwash early one morning noticed some sus- picious activity near the vacu- ums, so called up the police. Cops arrived and approached the suspicious car on foot to find the occupant in flagrante delicto November 3, 2008 • Law Times Bizarre Briefs By Viola James with a vacuum cleaner hose. Police arrested the 29-year- old Michigan man for "receiv- ing sexual favours from a vacu- um" at a car wash. wasn't released, is being held in the Saginaw County Jail. The suspect, whose name THERE'S NO POWER OF THREE TRENTON, N.J. — Three may be company but it won't necessarily earn you any pali- mony, a New Jersey appeal court has ruled. The odd case of Bayne v. was kind of a marriage but wasn't having any of Bayne's argument that she gave up her romantic commitment because he refused to divorce his wife, on whom he was economically dependent but with whom he had a platonic arrangement. Bayne and Earl Johnson had originally met in 1981. The three had actually lived together, and moved around, for many years. Bayne $384,000. The court of appeal overturned the award. The trial judge awarded Johnson v. Johnson, can be boiled down to one essential lesson: you can share a bed and live with a married man who still lives with his eldery wife, but you can't expect to get any pali- mony if you leave him because he won't leave his WIFE! "Palimony is the enforce- ment of a broken promise made for future support," Ap- pellate Division Judge Don- ald Collester wrote. "It is not recompense for years spent in a failed relationship" nor "an economic substitute for opportunities that may have been lost or expectations that were unfulfilled." Throughout Fiona Bayne's relationship with Earl John- son, he was married to Carolyn Johnson, a woman 20 years his senior, who was the beneficiary of a spendthrift trust, valued at $11 million, that pays her $200,000 to $300,000 a year. The court did admit that Bayne and Earl's relationship VIRTUAL MURDER LEADS TO REAL ARREST TOKYO, Japan — Furious at finding herself "divorced" from her online husband in the game MapleStory, a Japa- nese woman allegedly stole the login information of the man playing her husband and killed off his character. The 43-year-old piano teacher was arrested and charged with illegal access onto a computer and manipulating electronic data, police said. If convicted, she could face a prison term of up to five years or a fine up to $5,000. She was taken to Sapporo — where her "husband," a 33-year-old office worker lives — from her home in Miyazaki about 1,000 kilometres away. A Sapporo police official said the woman had used the man's ID and password to log into the game last May to carry out the virtual murder. "I was suddenly divorced, without a word of warning. That made me so angry," she was quoted by the official as telling investigators. LT Seen, heard, or been involved in a bizarre brief? Tell Viola James about it at viola.james@gmail. com. and Mr. Vanikiotis to FMC's com- mercial practice comes at a most appropriate time given the volatile economic situation around the world," says FMC Montreal man- aging partner Claude Morency. "Their extensive experience in this area will complement our energy, financial, and commer- cial practices in Montreal and further position FMC as a leader in providing sound counsel to Canadian and foreign multina- tionals as well as local small and mid-sized companies." LT For more Inside Story, please visit www.lawtimesnews.com "So, what's the deductible on the liability insurance if it falls down." For more information call: Rose Noonan 905-726-5444 www.lawtimesnews.com Untitled-2 1 10/23/08 3:13:34 PM

• Cover
• Canaries In Coal Mine
• Judge Launched CJC
• Focus On Real Estate Law